YOUTH SOCCER: LA Galaxy captures U-19 MLS NEXT Cup championship
- Dan Stickradt
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Galaxy finish 5-0-0, outscore opposition 16-3 with two shutouts
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — There is now one club alone atop the MLS NEXT U-19 pyramid.
The LA Galaxy became the first club in MLS NEXT history to win three different MLS NEXT Cup championships, capturing the U-19 title with a 3-1 victory over Cedar Stars Academy-Bergen on Sunday at the Murfreesboro Richard Siegel Soccer Complex near Nashville.
With much of the Galaxy’s 2024 U-17 MLS NEXT Cup championship roster of 2024 returning at the U-19 level for the 2024-25 season, the squad showed its quality once again and rose to the top June 14-22.
The LA Galaxy finished with five straight wins to capture the crown. The Galaxy opened with a round of 32 win over Weston FC (3-0) on June 15 and continued to move through the bracket. The side defeated FC Dallas the next day in the Round of 16 and on June 18 in the Cup quarterfinals match defeated in-state rival Los Angeles Football Club (5-1) to reach the semifinals.
In the Final Four of the 32-team tournament, the LA Galaxy downed Real Salt Lake Academy (2-1) before topping the aforementioned Cedar Stars Academy-Bergin. In the finals (3-1).
Overall in the tournament, LA Galaxy posted two shutouts along the way and a fine 16-3 scoring edge enroute to the title.
In the finals, Cedar Stars Academy-Bergin was forced to play down a man due to a red card. The LA Galaxy took advantage of the situation late in the first half.
Christian Coreas headed home an Eric Preston cross in the 44th for a 1-0 advantage for the Galaxy.
Dylan Vanney – who later was voted the U-19 Tournament MVP – upped the lead to 2-0 in the 59th minute when he uncorked a right-footed banger into the back of the net for his third goal in five games.
Despite playing down a man, Cedar Stars Academy-Bergin finally pulled one back in the 85th minute, when U-19 Top Scorer Amadou Aly Hann sent in his fourth goal of the tournament to trim the deficit back down to 2-1.
Two minutes into stoppage time, Kai Aina picked up a loose ball in the box and got around a falling defender to put his team back up by two goals at 3-1.
LA Galaxy goalkeeper Owen Pratt – named the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament as his side conceded only three goals in five games and posted a 0.60 goals-against-average – made eight saves in nine chances during the finals and picked up the win in goal for the U-19 champion Galaxy.
The LA Galaxy have now captured three all-time MLS NEXT Cup championships.
The New Jersey-based Cedar Stars Academy-Bergin finished 4-1 in the tournament, opening with wins over San Jose Earthquakes (5-1), Sockers SC (1-0) and New York Red Bulls (2-1) to reach the semifinals.
Cedar Stars slipped past Orlando City SC (2-1) in the semifinals before falling to the LA Galaxy in the finals. The side outscored its opposition 11-6 with one clean sheet in the tournament.
TOURNAMENT HONORS:
MVP (Presented by Adidas): Dylan Vanney, LA Galaxy
BEST GOALKEEPER (Presented by All-State): Owen Pratt, LA Galaxy
TOP SCORER: Amadou Aly Hann, Cedar Stars Academy-Bergen
BEST XI:
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