Generation adidas Cup 2019: Recap, Highlights and Top Performers
Final Standings | News / Highlights
The 2019 Generation adidas Cup concluded on Saturday, as champions were decided across the Champions Division, Premier Division and the U-15 Division of the prestigious international youth tournament.
Continue reading for recaps of the tournament’s three championship matches, along with some of the event’s best highlights and top plays, and a look at some of the top performers.
Recap
The Seattle Sounders Academy U-17s won the 2019 Generation adidas Champions Division, defeating Spanish side Valencia CF 1-0 in the final on Saturday in Frisco, Texas. As the reigning champs of the GA Cup Premier Division and the only MLS club to even advance to the tournament’s title match, they have etched their names in history as the first North American side to win the event.
Ray Serrano scored the game-winner in the closing seconds of extra time, heading home a cross from Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, as Seattle captured the title in dramatic fashion, avoiding a penalty kick shootout. [+Full Match Recap]
Mexican side Tijuana won the GA Cup’s Premier Division championship, culminating with a 2-0 shutout against Danish club FC Midtjylland in the title match.
The U-15 Division trophy also goes to Mexico, as Chivas de Guadalajara came out on top of a dramatic penalty kick shootout following a 1-1 draw against Toronto FC Academy. Chivas edged Toronto 5-4 in PKs after they remained all knotted up with one goal each following a grueling battle in regulation and extra time.
Although Chivas took the top spot in the U-15 Challenge between MLS academy clubs and Mexican academy sides, the MLS teams emerged as the overall winners of the challenge with a strong 11-6-3 record against Liga MX competition. [+Full Recap]
Highlights
Watch the top goals from the 2019 Generation adidas Cup, as compiled by MLSSoccer.com.
Hit rewind on the best goals from #GACup ⏪ pic.twitter.com/LCiagankMC
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 23, 2019
One of the most impressive goals of the entire GA Cup came on the last day, when Toronto FC’s Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty brought his team level with Chivas de Guadalajara in the U-15 final. Check out the golazo here.
On April 16, D.C. United Academy player Ted Ku-DiPietro shreded Ulsan Hyundai defense in a Premier Division match, as the 17-year-old scored what proved to be one of the most memorable goals of the entire tournament.
Got. Him. Good. ?#TekkersTuesday x #GACup pic.twitter.com/a2FEg7ob0k
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2019
Along with some of the tournament’s top goals, be sure to check out daily highlight videos of the top saves and best ball tricks / dribbling skills from the event.
Top Performers
MLSSoccer.com compiled a list of the top 10 performers from the 2019 Generation adidas Cup, by players representing MLS academy teams.
The list of top performers features: Defender Jonathan Gomez (FC Dallas Academy); winger Kamron Habibullah (Vancouver Whitecaps Academy); defender Kobe Hernandez-Foster (LA Galaxy Academy); winger Theo Ku-DiPietro (D.C. United Academy); midfielder Danny Leyva (Seattle Sounders Homegrown Player); forward Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez (Seattle Sounders Academy); goalkeeper Chituru Odunze (Vancouver Whitecaps Academy); midfielder David Rodriguez (FC Dallas Academy); forward Jacen Russell-Rowe (Toronto FC Academy); and midfielder Aidan Wolf (Columbus Crew SC). [+Read More on Each Player]
Highlighting the top-performer list is Seattle Sounders Academy forward Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, who racked up six goals, several in spectacular fashion, during his side’s historic run to the GA Cup’s Champions Division title.
Another Sounders player, Danny Leyva, who signed a Homegrown Contract with the first team just a couple weeks ago, will now turn his attention to earning minutes at the MLS level. The 15-year-old is the youngest player ever to sign with the Sounders first team, and he could be contributing on the MLS stage sooner rather than later. [+Full Story]
With a #GACup by @adidassoccer title under his belt, @SoundersFC midfielder Danny Leyva sets his sights on the first team: https://t.co/Eef4vYcovI pic.twitter.com/VL7ja9H8GH
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 23, 2019
