RSL Dominates U16 GA Cup Final

by Victor Olorunfemi

April 21, 2025

Players featured in this article:

	Jonah Giorgis \| 2027 MF \| RSL
	Rylan Hashimoto \| 2027 MF \| RSL
	Royce Mihov \| 2027 D \| RSL
	Van Parker \| 2027 F \| RSL
	Hunter Peralta \| 2027 D \| RSL

Behind a versatile tactical system and brilliant individual play, Real Salt Lake stormed to the U16 Generation Adidas Cup championship with a comprehensive 4-0 win. Even more impressive is that the victory was against an LA Galaxy side they lost to twice in MLS Next regular season play.

It took just ten minutes for RSL to strike, capitalizing on the strength of Van Parker and their ability to punish teams in transition. Parker did well to hold off his defender before turning and feeding Rylan Hashimoto, who showed absolute class in dribbling past the goalkeeper with a scissor move. With just three passes, the Utah-based club went from one goal to the other to find the back of the net.

If the first goal was about their athleticism on the break, the second was about their technical prowess. Just two minutes after the opener, Parker put a bow on the end of an 11-pass sequence as he spun his defender inside the 18, slithered past two more, and blasted past the goalkeeper.

Those two quick goals stunned an LA Galaxy squad that did well to maintain possession but struggled to convert their patience into clear-cut chances.

The second half was more of the same. The RSL center-back duo of Royce Mihov and captain Jonah Giorgis, in tandem with goalkeeper Konstantinos Kyriazis, continued to repel the Galaxy attack. Meanwhile, the team maintained a stunning ability to be possession and transition-oriented despite the diametrical opposition of those styles.

The third and fourth goals emphasized those points. Hashimoto scored his second of the day on an absurd long-range rocket straight into the top corner to finish off an impressive 9-pass sequence that started with dynamic full-back play from Hunter Peralta. Parker then achieved his brace on a solo run, chesting down a goal kick from Kyriazis before muscling past five defenders and arrowing a shot into the bottom corner.

That strike rounded up the scoring for the championship, capping off an emphatic tournament run for a Real Salt Lake squad that did not trail in any of their games.

Man of the Match: Van Parker, Real Salt Lake

Tournament Top Scorer: Obama Appiah, Genk

Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Konstantinos Kyriazis, Real Salt Lake

Tournament MVP: Rylan Hashimoto, Real Salt Lake