FRISCO, Texas – The New England Revolution Academy Under-19s advanced to the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Semifinals on Wednesday afternoon after battling Players Development Academy to a 2-2 draw and earning a 4-3 shootout victory.
Coached by former Revolution goalkeeper Brad Knighton, the U-19s advance to take on FC Dallas on Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET in the MLS NEXT Cup Semifinals. The match will stream live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. This marks the third consecutive season a Revolution Academy team has punched their ticket to the MLS NEXT Cup Semifinals with the U-15s earning their spot in the final four in 2021 and the U-19s going all the way to win the first MLS NEXT Cup Championship in club history last year.
After playing through a scoreless first half, PDA opened the scoring in the 47th minute. New England responded with Gianluca Armellino (2005 – Plainville, Mass.) tallying first postseason goal in the 67th minute. PDA retook the lead four minutes later as New England would find themselves down a goal heading into second half stoppage time.
Armellino was tripped just inside the left side of the box, earning a penalty kick opportunity in the final moments of the match. The forward evened the score with a right-footed shot to the bottom left corner, sending the game to the penalty kick shootout. Goalkeeper Max Weinstein (2004 – Montpelier, V.T.) made two saves while Ezra Widman (2005 – New York, N.Y.), Marco Dos Santos (2005 – Methuen, Mass.), Felipe Vieira De Andrade (2004 – Westborough, Mass.), and Jack Burkhardt (2005 – Sutton, Mass.) all buried their chances to secure the victory and send the U-19s to the MLS NEXT Cup Semifinals.
The Under-15s and Under-17s have also been competing at the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs in Frisco this week. The U-17s earned their way to the quarterfinals after defeating Florida Rush, 5-0, and securing a shootout victory after battling Nashville SC to a 2-2 draw in the round of 16. The U-17s fell to Orlando City SC in the quarterfinal match, 2-1, on Wednesday afternoon.
The U-15s opened their playoff action with a 3-3 draw vs. Columbus Crew, coming back from a two-goal deficit in second half stoppage time before falling in the shootout, 5-3. The 15s closed out their season with Showcase play vs. LA United Futbol Academy and Southern Soccer Academy, falling by scores of 2-1 and 3-0, respectively.
New England Revolution U-19s vs. Players Development Academy U-19s
Wednesday, June 21, 2022 – Toyota Soccer Center (Frisco, Texas)
New England Revolution 2 (4), Players Development Academy 2 (3)
Scoring Summary:
PDA – Alex Yablonovskiy 47’
NE – Gianluca Armellino 67’
PDA – Arion Ulaj 71’
NE – Gianluca Armellino 90’
Revolution U-19s: Max Weinstein; Steban Lopera, Jack Burkhardt, Garrett Holman (Alexi Karalis 63’), Alex Parvu; Gabriel Chavez (Ezra Widman 63’), Brandonn Bueno (Gianluca Armellino 63’), Tyler Flowers; Marco Dos Santos, Alex St. John (Bryce Flowers 45’), Jason Zacarias (Felipe Vieira De Andrade 78’).
Substitutes Not Used: Kevin Christensen, Marshall Nason Martin, Jack LaBelle, Gabriell de Godoi.
