RSL Academy Advances to Final Stage,
Setting Up Historic Opportunity
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (Thursday, June 17, 2025) The Real Salt Lake Academy U16 squad advanced to this weekend’s MLS NEXT Cup Final after a tense and dramatic 3-0 win over Inter Miami FC. Setting up a date with history, Real Salt Lake attempts to become the first squad to win both Generation adidas and MLS NEXT Cup titles in the same year; Saturday, only Atlanta United FC stands in the way.
Both Real Salt Lake and Inter Miami FC entered today’s match with its tactical gameplan. Throughout the first half, neither side budged, wanting to build through possession. Miami became the closest to scoring after RSL Goalkeeper Konstantinos Kyriazis mistimed the Miami service, leaving the ball loose and up for grabs inside the box. Jumping on the opportunity, a Miami defender fired on frame but was denied on the goal line by Kevin Sroga, who headed the surefire scoring ball out of danger.
After the break, Miami came out on the front foot with a possession spell in the RSL defensive third. Kyriazis came up big once again, stopping a Miami counterattack with a kicksave to keep the match level. Minutes later, Kyriazis was called into action again as a ball slipped past the Claret-and-Cobalt back line, forcing Kyriazis to step out. The Greek wall, Kyriazis, stopped the initial shot with another textbook kick save. Despite the save, danger was not clear, as Miami pounced on the rebound at the near post, but once again were foiled by a sliding Sroga, heroically denying the chance.
Real Salt Lake’s repeated defensive stands then propelled the attack, buying the Claret-and-Cobalt a possessive spell in the attacking third. Earning a corner in the 80th minute, 2025 GA Cup MVP Rylan Hashimoto opted for the inswinging corner from the right. Going for goal, Hashimoto placed a curling corner high out of the goalkeeper’s reach, tucking under the bar and into the far side netting, a true “GOLAZO olimpico” for his second goal of the tournament.
The floodgates then opened after RSL’s first goal,the Utah side adding another just two minutes later, as Nico Silva scored a screaming scissor kick whilst falling to the turf to double the late advantage. Late second half substitute Easton Wilson then scored his second of the competition, as the last action of the match saw him capitalize on a long ball sent over the top from Anders Theurer, his fourth assist of the competition, with a clinical finish to the far post through contact.
What’s Next - RSL U16s now advance to the final, its second consecutive MLS NEXT sanctioned final facing off against Atlanta United FC. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 am Local Time / 10:30 am MT on Saturday, June 21. All championship games will be streamed on the MLS YouTube page.
Team Leaders -
Goals: Parker: 6 / Gajek: 2 / Hashimoto: 2 / Wilson: 2 / Magsino: 1 / Martin: 1 / Peralta: 1 / Sroga: 1
Assists: Theurer: 4 / Mihov: 2 / Parker: 2 / Silva: 1
Clean Sheets: Kyriazis: 1
The RSL U18s advanced to the Semifinal stage after defeating Philadelphia Union 3-0 yesterday afternoon and now face LA Galaxy. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:15 CT / 10:15 MT on Friday., June 20.
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 four homegrown signees earlier this year, welcoming Omar Marquez, Aiden Hezarkhani, Owen Anderson and Gio Villa to its 2025 class. The quartet of RSL Academy products boosts the number of homegrown signings to 45, after all four inked their deals with the Claret-and-Cobalt.
