Academy Roundup | Young Garys make history at Generation adidas Cup

The FC Cincinnati Academy closed out a trip to Bradenton, Fla. for the Generation adidas Cup this past weekend. Both the U15 and U17 squads for the Orange and Blue advanced to the Championship Bracket for the first time in FCC Academy history. Cincinnati was one of five Major League Soccer organizations to send both age groups to the Championship Round. 

The U17s started the GA Cup with a 2-1-0 finish in the Group Stage. A 2-0 win over Philadelphia Union and a 1-0 shutout of Atlas FC propelled the Young Garys to a first-place finish in Group A. 

In the first round of the Championship Bracket, the Orange and Blue were tied 3-3 at the end of regulation but were eliminated on penalty kicks to Sporting KC, 5-4. In three showcase games after being eliminated, the club won against River Plate (Argentina) and New York City FC, and finished off the GA Cup with a tie against Real Salt Lake. 

The U15s led off the week of games with an identical record of 2-1-0 in Group B. The Young Garys took second place in their group with a 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers and a 1-0 shutout over D.C. United.  In the first round of the Championship Bracket, the club scored within minutes of the opening whistle with a goal off the foot of Jared Cardenas, but was eliminated by Danish club Brøndby IF 3-1. 

Stefan Chirila highlighted the tournament for the Orange and Blue U17s as the forward claimed the Golden Boot as the leading goal scorer in the U17 age group. Chirila netted five goals over the course of the tournament, including a game winner in the 1-0 victory over Atlas FC to send the Young Garys to the Championship Bracket. In the first round of the Championship Bracket, he secured a hat trick as Cincinnati were defeated on penalty kicks against Sporting KC. 

Jared Cardenas led the Young Garys U15 squad as the striker scored the group’s lone goal of the Championship Round, as he tallied three goals across the entire tournament. Cardenas found the back of the net early in the Round of 16 matchup against Brøndby IF, as well as the game-winning goal in the 1-0 victory over D.C. United. 

Up next for the FCC Academy, the U19 squad travels to Columbus, Ohio to face FUT Ohio on Saturday, April 13. The day following, the U13s and U14s play at home against Javanon at Mercy Health Training Center on April 14.