Since international academy sides were invited to compete at the Generation adidas Cup in 2014, MLS academies have struggled to keep up.

That trend continued in 2018, as none of the MLS teams in the Champions Division (the higher circuit of the two) finished in first to put themselves in position to win the U17 competition. There were definitely improved displays from the domestic sides, as teams tried to take the game to their opponent and play with a recognized style.

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While results are secondary at this age group, it remains a reminder of the stature of MLS teams when facing long-established academies from around the globe. A pair of MLS sides did advance in first place from the Premier Division, though the lower circuit featured three teams per group.

Below is a recap of the Generation adidas Cup group action.

Champions Division

Three-time champs River Plate emerged victorious from Group A, needing a win or draw on the final day of action against Toronto FC. Ryan Robinson equalized in stoppage time for Toronto, which trailed with a few minutes to go in a game they needed to win. River Plate added an extra point by defeating the Reds on penalty kicks. In the other Group A finale, D.C. United finished the group stage without a goal, drawing 0-0 with Eintracht Frankfurt. D.C. did win on penalty kicks on Monday but finished bottom of the group with two points (the extra awarded for the shootout win).

Brazilian power Flamengo dominated Group B play, polishing off Atlanta United by a 3-1 score, finishing group games with three wins from three games. It was a particularly poor showing from Portland, which scored one goal and conceded 12, losing all three outings in Frisco.

Another Brazilian side, Atletico Paranaense, topped Group C. After starting strong with a 3-0 defeat of NYCFC, where the MLS side performed well in the first half but tailed off in the second, Atletico edged SKC 1-0, and then cruised past Real Madrid in Monday’s finale. NYCFC looked solid, picking up 1-0 wins against Real Madrid and Sporting KC, though the opening day loss was the back breaker.

In Group D, host side FC Dallas came the closest to progressing in the Champions Division. The MLS side finished equal on points with Pachuca, though a 2-1 loss on Sunday against the Liga MX Academy served as the tie breaker, meaning they finished first. While FCD was without noted playmaker Thomas Roberts (competing at Dallas Cup with the U19s), the side still mustered a solid showing, defeating LA Galaxy by a 2-0 score on Monday.

Premier Division

Two of the more impressive sides in the Premier Division happened to fall in the same group, as Seattle Sounders pipped Columbus Crew SC in Group A. The two sides drew 0-0 in Monday’s final game, with the Sounders picking up the extra point with a shootout win.

Montreal Impact emerged as victors in Group B. With Colorado defeating Club Tijuana in Monday’s finale, it meant the winner of the Montreal-Philadelphia Union clash would win the group. And Montreal held on for a 2-1 win, thanks to a late winner by Calin Calaidjoglu.

A head-to-head tiebreaker meant that Liga MX side Monterrey emerges as the first place team in Group D. Real Salt Lake did beat Monterrey by a 2-1 score on Monday, and Orlando edged Houston 1-0 in the other group finale. With the Liga MX side ahead on goal difference and head-to-head winners, the finished first.

The New York Red Bulls made it three out of four MLS sides to secure a first-place group finish in the division, easing past Chicago Fire on Tuesday night. Scotty Taylor, Danny Jara and Ryan Schultz accounted for the goals as New York defeated the Fire by a 3-1 score to secure the top spot in Group C.