GA Cup: Key Players in the Austin FC U16 team

One of the most anticipated tournaments in the boys club soccer season is coming up shortly, as the MLS Next Generation Adidas Cup is set to take place at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, from April 12-20.   The tournament will feature 80 teams from 14 countries across the U16 and U18 age groups, including the MLS academies and some international heavyweights, such as Italy's Inter Milan, Germany's FC Bayern, the Netherlands' PSV, Brazil's Palmeiras and Mexico's Club America.   The three MLS clubs from Texas will send their teams down to Florida and we'll preview each of them in the days leading up to the event.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] U16</h2>   [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] will be part of Group I in Florida and will play against MLS foes New York City FC and Inter Miami and German side VfB Stuttgart. Since the start of the 2024-2025 MLS Next season, they have produced 14 wins, five losses and five ties.   Austin have two big and talented goalkeepers in [player_tooltip player_id='270293' first='Thomas' last='Burchfield'] and Liam Flynn. Their backline typically brings Daniel Wright on the right, Henri Holtzclaw on the left and [player_tooltip player_id='148170' first='Jonathan' last='Ayala'] and Alvaro Gonzalez in the middle. Luke Chamberlain, [player_tooltip player_id='148230' first='Lucca' last='Talos'], Tiano Vela and [player_tooltip player_id='148169' first='Christian' last='Ayala'] occupy the midfield spots. Up top, Kike De La Cruz, Nicolas Rojas and Rolando Garza are options on the wings, while [player_tooltip player_id='284290' first='Lucas' last='Hernandez'] and Jacob Peale appear at striker.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Players</h2>    Called up for a USYNT U16 training camp two months ago, Burchfield is one of the most promising goalkeepers in the country in his age group. His 6'6" frame makes the goal smaller for opposing attackers, who need to be more accurate and take more risks to get the ball out of his range. Although his size is one of his main assets between the posts, Burchfield is also very agile and technical and has a strong mindset, being capable of sustaining long periods of pressure from opponents without breaking down. A lefty, he distributes the ball efficiently out of the back, not taking many risks and avoiding mistakes.      Wright plays right back for [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] and is very important for the team on both sides of the ball. He does solid defensive work for them, using his positioning to cover the right spots and his physical tools to win duels and shut opponents down. Because of how physical he is, Wright is always very dangerous when he drives the ball as he does a very good job of keeping possession and shielding it from opponents and has a very strong first step - he, at times, makes some nice diagonal runs in the attacking half too. The outside back also likes to come inside ot support his team's offense on some occasions and has great vision to connect passes behind the backline.      A center back, Ayala anchors [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s backline, displaying incredible quality and efficiency on both sides of the ball. He can play in the center of a back three or as a left-sided center back and is very difficult to beat, offering excellent protection for the team's penalty box. Ayala thrives with his positioning and mobility, being very active and efficient at getting interceptions. He is also strong in the air and deals well with crosses sent into the penalty box. The most interesting aspect of his game is, perhaps, his ability to lead the team's buildup. Austin doesn't rush plays and most of them start with Ayala, who's extremely intelligent and accurate with his distribution.      [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s captain, Jonathan's brother Christian, is the engine of the team. He's always very active in midfield and moves around extremely well, popping up in great spots to make plays. A very technical and intense player, Ayala combines very well with those around him, coming closer to engage in quick combination plays and connecting good passes. He can be used as a box-to-box midfielder, a role in which he'll excel by coming close to the center backs to support the team's buildup, or further up on the field, where his vision and his ability to connect final passes can make a huge impact in the team's offensive production. Another aspect of Ayala's game that stands out is his ability to keep his level of play very high throughout entire matches.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/10/IMG_9588.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-269876" /></figure>    One of the many [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] options for the wings, De La Cruz stands out for having a different skill set than the other players in the position. A lefty, he typically plays inverted on the right and, instead of staying wide and stretching the field with pacey runs, he comes inside to support the team's playmaking. De La Cruz has all the tools to be in more congested areas of the field as he's big enough to endure physical battles and is very quick in mind, finding excellent passes in no time. He's also strong in 1v1 situations, using quick moves to beat defenders, and provides excellent service in set pieces.

One of the most anticipated tournaments in the boys club soccer season is coming up shortly, as the MLS Next Generation Adidas Cup is set to take place at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, from April 12-20.