LA Galaxy vs. TFA U13/U14: Top Performers

Today was one of the most exciting days I've had in quite some time watching youth academy soccer. This was easily one of the most competitive weekends I've witnessed this season, with some outstanding matchups between [program_tooltip program_id='283671' first='LA' last='Galaxy'] Academy and [program_tooltip program_id='283757' first='Total' last='Futbol Academy'] (TFA) across multiple age groups.   However, my primary focus from a scouting perspective was on the U13 and U14 matchups, and I can confidently say these were two of the best games I've watched this month.   The U13 matchup ended in a 1-1 draw, but the scoreline doesn't tell the full story. TFA held a 1-0 advantage for roughly 90% of the match, putting together a disciplined performance that looked like it would be enough to secure all three points. However, [program_tooltip program_id='283671' first='LA' last='Galaxy'] had other plans. With less than 10 minutes remaining, the Galaxy put together an excellent attacking sequence that resulted in a dramatic equalizer.   The U14 matchup was an absolute roller coaster. TFA came out firing, establishing a commanding 3-0 lead in the first half. At halftime, I was so convinced that TFA had this game in the bag that I decided to head over and scout some of the U17 action.   When I returned to the U14 field, the Galaxy had already cut the deficit to 3-2. What followed was one of the most impressive comebacks I've witnessed this season. [program_tooltip program_id='283671' first='LA' last='Galaxy'] found the equalizer and eventually completed the comeback with a game-winning goal in the dying moments, securing a remarkable 4-3 victory.   Below are the players who stood out to me the most throughout these two matchups. These evaluations are based on my own observations, with an emphasis on individual impact, technical ability, and the moments that ultimately shaped each game.   U13 Top Performers   Nathan Velazquez — TFA U13   Nathan is a player I featured in an article earlier this week, highlighting his performance against CITY SC Southwest last weekend. In that evaluation, I complimented his defensive awareness and technical abilities, particularly his effectiveness as an outside back.   This weekend, however, Nathan earns another mention for an entirely different reason: his impact on the offensive side of the ball.   Nathan delivered what I consider one of the most impressive finishes of the day. After a well-executed combination play, he found himself just outside the penalty area with an opportunity to shoot. What followed was an incredibly well-struck ball into the side netting, leaving the goalkeeper with virtually no chance.   At this age group, that kind of finish is something special. It requires confidence, composure, and the technical ability to execute under pressure.   What makes Nathan particularly interesting to me is that I'm beginning to see his versatility become a defining characteristic of his game. One week, he's impressing me with his defensive responsibilities, and the next, he's producing a moment of attacking brilliance.   This young man is seriously starting to get my attention. Moving forward, I'll be holding him in high regard and looking to see whether he can continue producing these kinds of performances whenever I'm scouting TFA.   Watch Nathan's goal:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dfut7ouhK0M/?exln=MWN6Y2I3cGlib3FzOA== </div></figure>   Alan Negrete — [program_tooltip program_id='283671' first='LA' last='Galaxy'] U13   Alan is one of those players I genuinely expect to continue developing into a top-tier forward within the MLS NEXT landscape.   There's a certain slickness to the way he plays. Whether he's combining with teammates in tight spaces, creating opportunities in the attacking third, or simply finding ways to keep possession moving forward, he has a natural understanding of the game that makes him exciting to watch.   What I enjoy most about Alan is that I get the sense he makes the players around him better.   He's not necessarily someone who needs to dominate every possession to make an impact. Instead, he understands how to create opportunities through his movement, decision-making, and ability to connect with teammates.   Sometimes I watch this guy play and feel like he could even find a way to give me an assist, and I'm way past my prime!   All jokes aside, that ability to create for others is something I value tremendously when evaluating young attacking prospects.   His contribution to today's equalizing goal was another great example of that quality. His assist to Nathan Amaya demonstrated exactly why I believe he has such an exciting future ahead of him.   Watch Alan's assist:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dfu2fYbMdRn/?exln=eDBvNHE4d3YydGt4 </div></figure>   Nathan Amaya — [program_tooltip program_id='283671' first='LA' last='Galaxy'] U13   Nathan Amaya is the real deal when it comes to playing as a forward.   This is now the second U13 Galaxy match I've watched this season that has come down to the closing stages, and on both occasions, Nathan has demonstrated his ability to deliver when his team needs him most.   To me, Nathan fits the archetype of a natural poacher, and I mean that in the best possible way.   There's something incredibly valuable about a forward who consistently puts himself in the right position to score goals. Some players have all the technical ability in the world but struggle to find themselves in dangerous areas when opportunities arise.   Nathan seems to have the opposite problem: he's almost always where he needs to be.   He makes intelligent runs in behind defenders, understands when to check toward the ball, and has the ability to contribute to combination play when necessary.   But what stands out above everything else is his instinct for finding the back of the net.   Today's late equalizer was another example of that natural scoring ability. When the Galaxy needed someone to step up and finish the opportunity, Nathan was there to deliver.   When a young forward demonstrates this kind of consistency in front of goal, sometimes the best way to describe him is simple: he just has a knack for scoring.   Watch Nathan's equalizer:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dfu2fYbMdRn/?exln=eDBvNHE4d3YydGt4 </div></figure>   U14 Top Performers   [player_tooltip player_id='409604' first='Jackson' last='Blaze'] — [program_tooltip program_id='283671' first='LA' last='Galaxy'] U14   [player_tooltip player_id='409604' first='Jackson' last='Blaze'] is a player I've become very familiar with over the last two years, and he continues to be one of the prospects I enjoy watching most.   I've always been a big believer in his technical abilities, and I genuinely feel those qualities can take him a long way as he continues developing.   Physically, Jackson isn't the tallest player on the pitch. In fact, he's only recently surpassed the five-foot mark. But if there's one thing his performances continue to prove, it's that his size doesn't prevent him from competing at a high level.   Today, Jackson delivered what I consider the most clutch moment of the entire day.   With the U14 matchup tied 3-3 and the game approaching its final moments, Jackson made a fantastic run in behind the defense, creating an opportunity to complete one of the most dramatic comebacks I've witnessed this season.   What impressed me most wasn't simply the finish. It was the subtle technical detail that made the goal possible.   As a defender attempted to recover and make a tackle, Jackson used a small but incredibly effective body feint to throw him off balance. That tiny movement created just enough separation for Jackson to evade the challenge and finish clinically.   It's the kind of detail that can easily go unnoticed if you're only watching the ball.   For me, however, these are the moments that reveal a player's technical intelligence.   Jackson didn't need to overpower the defender or rely on exceptional speed. He simply used his body positioning, timing, and technical ability to create the advantage he needed.   That's what makes him such an exciting prospect.   Watch Jackson's game-winning goal:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DfvD91gT_0A/?mdxt=aDBvdWxhOXlha2do </div></figure>   Addis Dagmawi — [program_tooltip program_id='283671' first='LA' last='Galaxy'] U14   Addis Dagmawi had a pretty clutch moment of his own, scoring the goal that brought [program_tooltip program_id='283671' first='LA' last='Galaxy'] level at 3-3 and set the stage for their eventual comeback victory.   I've been following Addis as one of the Galaxy prospects I believe has tremendous upside, and performances like today's only strengthen that opinion.   From a physical standpoint, he's already an intriguing player. The last I heard, he was approximately 5'11”, and it's entirely possible he's reached six feet by now.   He has a long, athletic frame and is still developing into his stride, but he's already capable of keeping pace with just about anyone on the field.   What's particularly exciting is that he combines those physical attributes with a willingness to compete and make himself available in important moments.   Unfortunately, I started filming his goal just a second too late to capture the entire sequence as it developed.   However, what I did capture was his celebration, and I think that moment says quite a bit about the player.   You could see just how much that equalizer meant to him and his teammates.   Beyond the goal itself, Addis continues to show the qualities that make me believe [program_tooltip program_id='283671' first='LA' last='Galaxy'] will keep providing him opportunities to develop.   He's physically gifted, competitive, and consistently finding ways to respond when given those opportunities.   I genuinely believe this is the kind of player who could develop into a highly regarded prospect that programs will be competing to have on their roster in the future.   Watch Addis's equalizer and celebration:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DfvDQK1TfE5/?obrf=YmppOHQ4azUyeG9i </div></figure>   Adrian Hilario — TFA U14   Adrian Hilario produced one of the most skillful goals I've seen in quite some time.   His finish gave TFA a 2-0 advantage, but what made the play so impressive was the technical sequence that led to the goal.   Receiving the ball near the top of the penalty area in a target-forward position, Adrian demonstrated exceptional composure and awareness.   Rather than rushing his first touch, he allowed the ball to travel across his body, opened his hips, and used that movement to evade the initial defensive pressure.   From there, he cut the ball back against the momentum of the recovering defenders, creating an opening that initially didn't appear to exist.   He made the entire sequence look remarkably easy before calmly finishing past the goalkeeper, who had been left exposed by Adrian's movement.   What impressed me most was his ability to manipulate the positioning of the defenders.   Finding space between two center backs is never an easy task, especially against an MLS academy.   Adrian managed to do exactly that, using technical precision and intelligent movement rather than simply relying on physicality.   This was one of those goals that deserves to be watched more than once because there are so many small details that contributed to the finish.   Despite TFA eventually coming up short, Adrian's individual quality was undeniable.   Watch Adrian's goal:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dfu8_VYBLU8/?mdxt=MWgzMjB6c21mZjJ6Yw== </div></figure>   Leonardo Vital — TFA U14   Leonardo Vital deserves recognition for setting the tone early in what initially looked like it would be a dominant TFA performance.   He opened the scoring for TFA with an outstanding strike from just outside the penalty area, producing a finish that gave the Galaxy goalkeeper virtually no chance.   It was the kind of goal that immediately changes the energy of a match.   With that early advantage, TFA gained confidence and momentum, eventually building what appeared to be a comfortable 3-0 lead.   Although the result ultimately didn't go their way, it's important not to overlook the contributions that put TFA in such a strong position to begin with.   Leonardo was a major part of that.   When evaluating individual performances, I think it's important to recognize that a player's impact shouldn't be defined entirely by the final result.   TFA had every opportunity to win this game, and Leonardo's early contribution was instrumental in creating that opportunity.   His ability to step up and produce a quality finish from distance is certainly something worth recognizing.   Watch Leonardo's opening goal:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dfu7zzeB_is/?obrf=MWhraWowZDJxamlxOQ== </div></figure>   Final Thoughts   One of the things I appreciate most about scouting youth academy soccer is that every match provides an opportunity to discover something new about a player.   Sometimes it's a spectacular goal. Other times, it's a subtle movement, an intelligent decision, or the willingness to compete when a game isn't going your team's way.   Today's matchups between [program_tooltip program_id='283671' first='LA' last='Galaxy'] and TFA had a little bit of everything.   From TFA's impressive attacking sequences to the Galaxy's resilience in coming from behind, both programs demonstrated why these age groups are so exciting to follow.   There were certainly other players who contributed meaningful performances and could have deserved recognition. However, for the sake of keeping these evaluations concise and maintaining a selective approach to our scouting coverage, I've chosen to highlight the individuals who made the strongest impressions on me.   Congratulations to both programs for delivering two outstanding matches and giving us a glimpse of the next generation of talent within MLS NEXT.   Stay tuned with KS Sports Network as we continue scouting some of the most exciting young prospects in the country and prepare for our upcoming coverage of MLS NEXT Fest.   The best is yet to come.

Today was one of the most exciting days I've had in quite some time watching youth academy soccer. This was easily one of the most competitive weekends I've witnessed this season, with some outstanding matchups between LA Galaxy Academy and Total Futbol Academy (TFA) across multiple age groups.

However, my primary focus from a scouting perspective was on the U13 and U14 matchups, and I can confidently say these were two of the best games I've watched this month. The U13 matchup ended in a 1-1 draw, but the scoreline doesn't tell the full story. TFA held a 1-0 advantage for roughly 90% of the match, putting together a disciplined performance that looked like it would be enough to secure all three points. However, [program_tooltip program_id='283671' first='LA' last='Galaxy'] had other plans. With less than 10 minutes remaining, the Galaxy put together an excellent attacking sequence that resulted in a dramatic equalizer. The U14 matchup was an absolute roller coaster. TFA came out firing, establishing a commanding 3-0 lead in the first half. At halftime, I was so convinced…