HERRIMAN, Utah / BRADENTON, Florida (Tuesday, April 15, 2025) - Real Salt Lake Academy is just one of fice academies (Portland Timbers, LA Galaxy, Orlando City SC and Philadelphia Union) to send both of its U16 and U18 squads to the Round of 16 in this year’s Generation adidas Cup, each RSL team progressing from the group stages unbeaten. This marks the second consecutive year both RSL Academy squads have topped its groups, joining LA Galaxy as MLS Clubs with two age groups in the knockout stage in both the 2024 and 2025 competitions.
The knockout rounds begin Thursday as RSL Academy U16s square off against FC Tokyo at 11:30 am ET, while the U18s face off against Toronto FC at 4:30 pm ET with Quarterfinal berths on the line.
TOURNEY IN REVIEW: Opening up day two of broadcast games featuring its march against Club América, the U16s brought the drama early Sunday morning in the Sunshine state. Conceding a penalty kick five minutes into the second half RSL Academy had its backs against the wall. In the 52’ down a goal, Rylan Hashimoto took matters into his own hands, dicing a Club América defender before firing off a clinical finish to the far post past the outstretched arms of the keeper. Tied 1-1 at the end of regulation 59’ substitute goalkeeper Pete Loveridge saved a crucial penalty, switching the momentum of the shootout flipping the pressure onto the Liga MX academy. Club América placed their last two shots off frame, clinching the extra point for the Claret-and-Cobalt.
Hashimoto led U16 Head Coach Jordan Allen’s squad in scoring through the group stage recording two goals en route to a Group F first place finish. Goalkeeper Konstantinos Kyriazis recorded two clean sheets in both the opening and closing matches of group play.
Finishing with eight points in back-to-back years the U18 squad is headed to the knockout stages with momentum. A thrilling 6-5 shootout victory over FC Cincinnati behind goalkeeper Bennet Ewing to open up group play set the tone for the remaining games. Will Mackay logged the only clean sheet thus far for the 18s during a 2-0 win over C.F. Monterrey followed with a 2-1 win over NYCFC to secure a spot in the knockout stage. Forward Chase Duke’s two goals paired with Grayson Carter’s two flawless executions from the spot combine for four of the five goals scored throughout the group stage.
U16 Scores - RSL Academy / Group F
4/12 vs Philadelphia Union - W (1-0) Goal: Hunter Peralta (Javier Martinez)
4/13 vs Club América - D (1-1, 3-1 shootout victory) Goal: Rylan Hashimoto (Nico Silva)
4/14 vs Tampa Bay Unites - W (3-0) Goal: Rowan Martin (unassisted), Rylan Hashimoto (Andreo Gajek), Andreo Gajec (Rylan Hashimoto)
U16 Group F Final Standings
Real Salt Lake, 8 pts, 2-0-1
Philadelphia Union, 6 pts. 2-1-0
Club América, 4 pts, 1-1-1
Tampa Bay United, 0 pts, 0-3-0
U18 Scores - RSL Academy / Group B
4/12 vs FC Cincinnati - D (1-1, 6-5 shootout victory) Goal: Grayson Carter (PK)
4/13 vs C.F. Monterrey - W (2-0) Goal: Grayson Carter (PK), Chase Duke (Jack Ottley)
4/14 vs. New York City FC - W (2-1) Goal: Antonio Riquelme (Aiden Hezarkhani), Chase Duke (Luis Rivera)
U18 Group B Final Standings
Real Salt Lake, 8 pts, 2-0-1
FC Cincinnati, 4 pts 1-1-1
New York City FC, 3 pts, 1-2-0
C.F. Monterrey, 3 pts, 1-2-0
Real Salt Lake Academy is the official MLS NEXT affiliate of MLS side Real Salt Lake. Leading Major League Soccer in homegrown signees, RSL welcomed Omar Marquez, Aiden Hezarkhani, Owen Anderson, and Gio Villa, all RSL Academy products, as part of its 45 homegrown signings after inking their deals with the Claret-and-Cobalt earlier this year. Advancing from the group stages of 2025 Generation adidas Cup RSL academy looks to make a run for the academy’s first GA cup title.