Each week, TopDrawerSoccer takes a dive into some of the top performances from young domestic players around the USL Championship and League One.
Nowadays for the rising young American, the pathway from academy to MLS almost always comes with a pitstop in the USL.
And just days after putting pen to paper on a professional contract, 16-year-old Efrain Morales made his professional debut, coming on as a first half sub for Atlanta United 2.
In just under 70 minutes on the field, Morales had several bright moments: making crucial interventions, reading the game well and not looking physically overmatched despite his age.
His game is predicated much more than that, but as a central defender tasked with going up against experienced, wily veterans, Morales did have the physical tools to compete. He wasn’t afraid to go into a challenge, and even popped up to score a goal from a set piece scramble.
There were learning moments, however. Two goals for Charleston Battery (which won the game 3-2) demonstrated the speed of thought required even at the USL level; brief moments of hesitations or the slightest misjudgment of what was playing out by his teammates played a role in the Battery clawing their way back into the game and then coming up with the winner.
Born in 2004, the recent Homegrown signing could be a pillar of the U.S. Under-17 MNT for the 2021 cycle (provided it goes forward) if Atlanta allows him to take part. Even if he isn’t, Morales is a name to remember for both the present and future.
Right place, right time.
— ATL UTD 2 (@atlutd2) August 16, 2020
Efrain Morales with his first career goal in his first career game 🙌 pic.twitter.com/5SziJgsUEK
