Stunning International Opponents and Domestic Dominance

Atlanta United U-14’s took it upon themselves to cross the Atlantic and test themselves with the strongest youth academies in the world. While business was being taken care of abroad, here domestically, we had talents continuing their brilliant form at the highest level as the MLS NEXT Pro season progresses, plenty of incredible performances were put on display as individuals shined throughout the weekend.

Author

Lucas Aguirre
August 26, 2024

Atlanta United U-14s Stun European Giants Setting a New Benchmark in the Netherlands

The Atlanta United Academy's U-14 team kicked off their season in the most challenging way possible; taking a trip to the Netherlands for the Greenport International Tournament, where they set quite the standard for American academies as they competed against some of the best academies from across Europe.

Grouped with eight other teams, including the likes of KRC Genk (Belgium), Feyenoord (Netherlands), Budapest Honvéd FC (Hungary), Brøndby IF (Denmark), Sparta Rotterdam (Netherlands), PSV (Netherlands), and Borussia Dortmund (Germany). Atlanta United put in a solid performance in the group stage securing: 4 wins, 2 draws, and just 1 loss.

From Early Setbacks to Greenport International Tournament Champions

On the first day, Atlanta United started with a draw against KRC Genk and later suffered a 2-0 defeat to Feyenoord. However, the following day Atlanta United went on a hot streak as they set themselves up very nicely for the knockout stages. Budapest Honvéd FC was Atlanta’s first victim as they took down the Hungarian side 1-0, Atlanta then replicated the same scoreline against Brøndby IF, and later achieved a 3-0 victory over Sparta Rotterdam as they capped it off with a hard-fought 2-1 win against Dutch giants, PSV.

Sunday marked the final day of the Greenport International Tournament, where Atlanta United secured a 0-0 draw against Borussia Dortmund, which earned them a spot in the semifinals. In the semifinals, Atlanta United triumphed 1-0 over RSC Anderlecht, and in the final, they were crowned champions after a 5-4 dramatic victory on penalties against the Belgian giants, KRC Genk.

Young Talents Takes Center Stage in MLS NEXT Pro

The weekend brought out the talents of some of the nations top prospects as Matchday 24 of MLS NEXT Pro was all about the individual performances. A number of players managed to stand out and have a significant impact on their respective matches.

We begin with Nimfasha Berchimas, who scored a stunning goal in Crown Legacy FC’s 4-1 victory over New York Red Bulls II. The forward, born in 2008, had recently participated in the Concacaf U-20 Championship, as he helped the U.S. reach the final where he scored a wonder goal against Mexico.

The young youth international, after returning to the starting lineup, netted a long-range shot that leveled the score for his side to make it 1-1. Berchimas played the full 90 minutes as he was influential in his team victory on the day. On the New York Red Bulls II side, both Julian Hall and Tanner Rosborough, who had been on the bench the previous day for the MLS match, played their part and garnered more experience at the top level as they also completed the full 90 minutes.

Santi Morales delivered an outstanding performance in Inter Miami II’s 5-1 victory over Chattanooga FC. The attacking midfielder, born in 2007, scored in the 40th minute to put his team up 3-0. Morales has been critical to Inter Miami II’s way of playing this season as he has 4 goals and 1 assist in 14 MLS NEXT Pro matches. Morales’s impressive performances have led to him earning a call-up to the upcoming United States U-18 camp, where his talents will be on display with some of the best youngsters in the country.

Caden Glover scored in a 4-0 victory over North Texas SC, marking his second consecutive match with a goal, as he netted one in his previous match against Minnesota United FC 2. Alongside Glover, The forward, born in 2006, Mykhi Joyner, netted a brace on the day, bringing his tally to 12 goals in 20 MLS NEXT Pro matches and continuing his hot scoring streak this season.

From Emerging ECNL Talent to Breakout Star in MLS NEXT Pro

Rogelio García’s story is unique, and few cases have gained as much recognition and impact as his. García began his career with Oklahoma City Energy FC in ECNL, where he quickly showcased his dribbling skills and vision on the field.

Although the young star is primarily known as a striker, he is someone who does not limit his all around game to one position and can be quite versatile across the front line. García’s ability to play as a striker and drop deeper as an attacking mid and use his vision to create offensive opportunities for his team makes him such an interesting profile of a player.

In the 2022/2023 season, Rogelio García made a name for himself as he was named the best U-15 player in Texas, which also earned him a spot on the ECNL All-American U-15 team. His outstanding performances with Oklahoma City led to a call-up for a U.S. U-15 identification camp in Chula Vista, California.

Known by many of his friends and teammates as "Mr. ECNL", García was initially rejected by several MLS academies. However, it was Colorado Rapids who gave him the opportunity to join their academy for the 2023/2024 season, where it didn’t take long for him to hit the ground running as he demonstrated his talents on the field. García became a key player for Colorado Rapids, who, despite an early exit in the MLS NEXT Cup, individually, he showed strong performances overall.

His rapid and notable progress in Colorado Rapids’ U-17 academy earned him a promotion to the second team, where he has recently shined. Rogelio García has scored three goals in three consecutive matches and added 1 assist in a total of 14 games.

Rogelio García’s story will undoubtedly serve as an inspiration to many young players across the country who come from very similar football development backgrounds and help push them to continue pursuing their dreams.