Goalkeeping heroics see NYCFC U17 through to Quarterfinals of Generation adidas Cup

New York City FC U17 were rewarded for outplaying Charlotte FC U17 in the 2022 Generation adidas Cup knockout round yesterday, advancing to the quarterfinals after a well-earned 1-0 win played under the blue skies of Frisco, TX.

Charlotte U17 might have been seeded higher after winning a group that included 2019 winner Seattle Sounders U17, but NYCFC U17 were the better side from the opening whistle. NYCFC U17 dominated possession, and their composure payed dividends when in the 17th minute defensive midfielder Mikhail Zaretser finished a cross played by Tyler Morck after a short corner.

It was the sort of set-piece play that’s in the DNA of every NYCFC Academy player:

The game ended on a dramatic note when a Charlotte U17 was awarded a penalty in stoppage time. Kemp Wilson tried to convert it, but NYCFC U17 goalkeeper Alexander Yagudayev made the save, and sent the team through to the GA Cup Quarterfinals.

It was a tremendous stop:

NYCFC U17 next face Tigres UNAL U17 on Friday, April 15, at 4 pm ET. The game will be streamed live on Twitch and YouTube.

The winner will meet either River Plate U17 or Manchester United U17 in the semifinals.

Generation adidas Cup is the most important youth tournament in North America, and has featured some of the most talented players in the region including Tayvon Gray, Giovanni Reyna, Weston McKennie, George Bello, Jesús Ferreira, Paul Arriola, Ricardo Pepi, Gianluca Busio, and Zack Steffen, among others.

NYCFC U17 roster

Kamran Acito

Gianluca Armellino

Mark Cajamarca Tenemea

Gabriel Chavez

Kelvin Da Costa

Francesco Di Ponzio

Dren Dobruna

Cooper Flax

Nathan Gaviser

Tyler Glassberg

Alexander Hauschild

Klevis Haxhari

Christian McFarlane

Tyler Morck

Khaled Daoud

Max Pfaffman

Kaden Pollard

Mateo Ponce-Ocampo

Diego Rossi

Oliver Stafford

Yahir Tafoya

Kaief Tomlinson

Jeffrey Vanegas

Alexander Yagudayev

Mikhail Zaretser