Atlanta United U-16s were crowned champions of the MLS NEXT Cup

The 5-Stripes started the championship game hot with two unanswered first half goals. Cooper Sanchez put Atlanta up with a stunning long-range shot from inside the penalty area 15 minutes in before the Rocket Ritarita doubled their lead on a penalty kick in the 23rd.^rd minute.

The momentum would shift to the beginning of the second half. Strikers FC scored an early goal to cut the lead and Sanchez was sent off just under 10 minutes after being shown a second yellow card. In stoppage time, after some strong defensive efforts, the 5-Stripes unleashed a decisive counterattack with Joseph Gonzalez scoring the final goal of the game to bring the championship back home to Atlanta.

Led by former ATL UTD midfielder and 2018 MLS Cup champion Kevin Kratz, the under-16s capped off an amazing MLS Next Cup playoff run with the title. The team entered the tournament as the runner-up and beat the Florida Rush 1-0 in the first round before defeating Real Colorado 5-3 in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw in the round of 16. Then they beat Florida. -based Weston FC 3-1 in the quarterfinals and then held off Solar SC of Texas 2-1 in the semifinals.

Ashton Gordon, who represented Jamaica earlier this year at the Concacaf U-17 Championship, led the team with four goals in the playoffs. Goalkeeper Dillon Griner took home the top goal scorer award, allowing just three goals during the tournament. Rocket Ritarita was chosen as the best player of the tournament.

Atlantas U-16s entered the MLS NEXT Cup in dominant fashion, defeating the nine-team Southeast Division with a 22-1-1 (69 points) regular season record.

This is Atlanta United Academy’s first title in MLS NEXT since the league’s inception in 2020.