July 5, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
FRISCO, TX – The 2021-22 MLS NEXT Cup champions were crowned on Saturday and Sunday night, culminating a 10-month long regular season and week-long MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase event in the Dallas metroplex.
The second-ever MLS NEXT Cup champions all came from MLS academy programs: U15 Inter Miami CF, U16 D.C. United, U17 Philadelphia Union, and U19 New England Revolution. All four championship matches were played at Toyota Stadium, home to MLS club FC Dallas, and streamed live on Twitch and YouTube.
The tournament’s Top Scorer, Best Goalkeeper presented by Allstate, and MVP awards for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs were presented following the conclusion of play in each of the four age groups.
U15 MLS NEXT Cup Champions: Inter Miami CF
Inter Miami CF thwarted Real Salt Lake’s defense of the U15 championship, winning 2-1 in the U15 title game and taking home the MLS NEXT Cup crown. Miami got off to a fast start, scoring in the 13th minute off the head of Victor Fun following a cross by Santiago Morales – son of RSL legend Javier Morales. Morales extended the club’s lead to 2-0, finishing on a strong one-timer from outside the box in the 26th minute. Real Salt Lake closed the gap to one on a penalty kick from Zavier Gozo , his fifth goal of the tournament, but the club was unable to grab an equalizer. Morales earned tournament MVP honors for the U15 division.
U15 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs Individual Awards
Top Scorer: Zavier Gozo, Real Salt Lake
Best Goalkeeper presented by Allstate: Will Mackay, Real Salt Lake
MVP: Santiago Morales, Inter Miami CFU16 MLS NEXT Cup Champions: D.C. United
D.C. United secured the first trophy of the weekend, defeating Strikers FC of California 1-0 in the first of four championship matches. D.C. United’s Sydney Aggrey recorded his fourth goal of the tournament in the game’s sixth minute of play, as he knocked the ball loose from an opposing player before taking a touch on the edge of the box and firing a low shot past the Strikers FC goalkeeper, Dylan Kaye. Kaye’s sensational play in goal kept his club within one score; however, they could not capitalize as D.C. held onto the 1-0 advantage for the duration of the match. Marcus Lee of Strikers FC was named the tournament MVP in the U16 division.
U16 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs Individual Awards
Top Scorer: Sydney Aggrey, D.C. United, Ignacio Alem, D.C. United, Roka Tsunehara, De Anza Force, Daniel Baran, Sockers FC
Best Goalkeeper…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at OurSports Central Major League Soccer MLS News…