SANDY, Utah (Tuesday, July 12, 2016) – A league-high four Real Salt Lake players are selected to represent the Claret-and-Cobalt later this month at the 2016 MLS Chipotle Homegrown Game, as MLS and U.S. National Team legend Landon Donovan announced the roster earlier today via Facebook Live.
RSL’s homegrown quartet – midfielders Danilo Acosta and Jordan Allen and defenders Justen Glad and Phanuel Kavita – are recognized amongst the league’s most accomplished young stars, who will take on the Mexico Under-20 National Team in the third annual Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. MT on Wednesday, July 27 from Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif.
“The invitation of four RSL homegrown players to this event is a phenomenal development for which the entire Real Salt Lake organization should take great pride,” said RSL General Manager Craig Waibel. “Credit should go to the setup implemented by our Owner, Dell Loy Hansen, whose support of our academy and investment in our development infrastructure is unparalleled.”
“In Casa Grande, Ariz., Martin Vasquez and his staff are doing a fantastic job of preparing our kids mentally, physically, tactically and technically to challenge for professional minutes, at both the MLS and USL levels, within one-two-three years,” continued Waibel. “Obviously, with our structure, the Real Monarchs play a huge role in developing both the individual and the collective, so Freddy Juarez and his staff clearly deserve a ton of credit as well.”
2016 MLS Homegrown Team Biographies (Real Salt Lake):
DANILO ACOSTA DF/MF Nationality: Honduras/USA D.O.B.: November 17, 1997
Acosta signed a Homegrown Player contract with RSL in December, 2015, the rookie impressing in his time with USL side Real Monarchs this season. Although born in Honduras, Acosta competes internationally for the United States, having been named to coach Tab Ramos’ Under-20 training camp in January 2016 and scoring a goal in a 4-0 U.S. victory over Panama on July 2 at the NTC Tournament. Able to play either center back or the holding midfielder position, Acosta is making his first appearance in the Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game.
JORDAN ALLEN MF Nationality: USA D.O.B.: April 25, 1995
After a modest rookie season, Allen enjoyed a breakthrough 2015 campaign, featuring regularly in the RSL midfield with 11 starts and 23 matches played. This season, Allen has already scored a career-high three goals – including the game-winner in the club’s last win, on June 22 – to go along with one assist in 12 matches, seven of which have been starts. Allen has represented the United States at multiple youth levels, most notably playing on the 2015 squad that advanced to the quarterfinals of the Under-20 World Cup.
JUSTEN GLAD DF Nationality: USA D.O.B.: February 28, 1997
Glad makes his second appearance in the Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game (2015, 2016) after starting and playing the first half a year ago against the Club America Under-20 squad in Denver. After starting six of seven MLS matches played last season and earning valuable seasoning throughout the USL Real Monarchs’ inaugural campaign, Glad is experiencing a breakout year in 2016 with 13 starts in 14 games played for RSL thus far. Glad has registered career highs in minutes played while registering his first career MLS goal and assist this year, earning a spot in www.MLSsoccer.com columnist Matt Doyle’s midseason Best XI selection.
PHANUEL KAVITA DF Nationality: DR Congo/USA D.O.B.: March 9, 1993
Kavita is making his first appearance in the Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game after starting two matches for Real Salt Lake in his rookie season a year ago. Now in his second season with the Claret-and-Cobalt, Kavita saw his first MLS regular-season action of 2016 after starting and playing a full 90 minutes against FC Dallas on June 25. The Democratic Republic of Congo native regularly features for Real Salt Lake’s USL squad Real Monarchs SLC, after a four-year career at Clemson, where he captained the Tigers to the ACC Championship as a senior.
The MLS Homegrown Team will take on its most formidable opponent to date in the Mexico U-20s, one of the region’s accomplished youth national teams. The Mexico U-20s lay claim to 13 CONCACAF U-20 Championship titles, most recently winning the past three editions of the tournament in 2011, 2013 and 2015. The Mexico U-20 travelling roster will be named at a later date.
Tickets to the 2016 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game can be purchased at www.chipotlehomegrown.com. MLS Homegrown Players aged 23 or under were available for selection, as the Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game provides an annual platform in which to showcase MLS’ burgeoning young talent and demonstrate the growth of the league’s youth development system. MLS academies continue to attract and cultivate topflight prospects and have now produced over 150 Homegrown Players who have signed professional contracts with MLS clubs.
A total of 11 MLS clubs are represented on the Homegrown roster, including:
Goalkeepers: Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas), Maxime Crépeau (Montreal Impact)
Defenders: Danilo Acosta (Real Salt Lake), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake), Aaron Guillen (FC Dallas), Phanuel Kavita (Real Salt Lake), Jalen Robinson (D.C. United), Tyler Turner (Orlando City SC)
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake), Jay Chapman (Toronto FC), Coy Craft (FC Dallas), Harrison Heath (Orlando City SC), Aaron Kovar (Seattle Sounders FC), Raul Mendiola (LA Galaxy), Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes)
Forwards: Joey Calistri (Chicago Fire), Jordan Hamilton (Toronto FC), Jack McBean (LA Galaxy), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC)
