MLS Next Cup and Showcase: U16 Cup Semifinal Standouts

With a trophy in sight, the action inside Siegel Stadium got hot enough to match the scorching temps. FC Delco and Philadelphia Union held up one side of the bracket while Real Colorado went toe to toe with St. Louis City SC. After 180 minutes between the two matches, it would be the two non-MLS Academy sides that will face each other in the final. Here are the players who stood above the rest en route to setting up the U16 final:    From the earliest moments of the game, Capretto showed that he was going to be the best player in the game. Merely eight minutes in, he forced an awkward tackle from a Union center back that saw that player sent off, and from there it was off to the races. His first goal saw him finish from 14 yards out on the left side, turning easily in the box to receive the ball and slot home. His second was even more stunning, bringing down a high ball near midfield on a 1v1, faking and going around his defender in 40 yards before finishing near post from a near impossible angle. This match truly showed why he's the goals leader of the U16s and was the best player on the field all day.     Another forward who bagged two goals in a U16 semifinal, Owen Anderson spurred his squad on to take hold of their place in the MLS Next Cup final on Sunday. His first strike would come from a seemingly innocuous play, a bit of a slow pass back from one defender to another, and Anderson swooped in and stole it right from under the defenders nose. With another deft touch, Anderson slammed home past the goalkeeper, giving his squad the lead. His second showed a genuine sense of impeccable timing, bursting through the back line inch perfectly for a cross that left him all alone with the keeper. He managed to glance the ball with the back of his head and loop it over the keeper into the open net and doubled Real Colorado's lead.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/06/20240620_124901-rotated-crop-2735x1796-1718975662.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-182838"/></figure>    Giwa was dangerous throughout the entire game, opening up space for his counterparts and forcing St. Louis to manage multiple threats from all angles. He also was a menace on defense, regularly winning duels on the wing and physically imposing himself against any player who played down his flank. Giwa rounded off his spectacular performance with an Olimpico to the short side of the goal, sneaking it past two defenders and the goalkeeper to put the game out of reach for Real Colorado.     Wesseh still displayed a plethora of skill and starpower despite being hamstrung by his team going down to ten men les than ten minutes into the match. He was consistently the best player for Union on the field, getting forward and creating chances, creating with teammates along the wing, and seeking to be the point of the spear despite the disadvantage. Even as the score continued to fall further out of Union's favor, Wesseh continued to battle, putting in whipped and dangerous corners and looking to pull his team across the finish line.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/06/20240620_113541-rotated-crop-2735x1796-1718977242.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-182840"/></figure>    Lannon was the perfect ice to the fire brought by his forward teammate, turning the game on its head early in the second half with a cool run and finish before St. Louis could potentially conceive of coming back. It was even more impressive considering the 50 yard run he completed to put himself in position, leaving the City back line in the dust and smashing past the helpless net minder. Beyond his solo effort, Lannon had an exception performance, pulling defenders away and creating space for his teammates, winning headers and retaining possession for his team in the middle, and combining nicely to create chances further up the field.     The brightest spot for St. Louis City was Cornelius and his electric play. He put on a show from the start of the match, taking several forays into the attacking third on the left wing, resulting in two half chances and a free kick opportunity. He continued to make himself available and visible throughout the match, sparking nearly every dangerous St. Louis attack for 90 minutes. In fact, it was his own efforts that earned City a penalty and he took it definitively, slotting home into the side netting to pull one back for his side.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/06/20240620_135314-rotated-crop-2735x1796-1718977767.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-182842"/></figure>    Lorenti made a loud statement in the first minute of the match, a deafening tackle against the dangerous Union winger, and possessed the ball off of him to find his outlet and starting a superb counter attack. He would repeat this effort another few minutes later, and this time, that counter would result in a Union defender being sent off. From there, Lorenti spent the rest of his minutes cutting off every pass played his way, both on the ground and in the air, reclaiming possession for his team over 15 times while turning it over only once until he made way for a tactical sub.

With a trophy in sight, the action inside Siegel Stadium got hot enough to match the scorching temps. FC Delco and Philadelphia Union held up one side of the bracket while Real Colorado went toe to toe with St. Louis City SC. After 180 minutes between the two matches, it would be the two non-MLS Academy sides that will face each other in the final. Here are the players who stood above the rest en route to setting up the U16 final: