2025 MLS NEXT Cup: Round of 16
RSL Academy Squads Advance to Quarterfinal Stage
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (Monday, June 16, 2025) - Both Real Salt Lake Academy squads advance to the MLS NEXT Quarterfinals after winning its respective matches on Monday, a day that saw RSL U16 defeat Charlotte FC, 6-3, in the morning, with the U18 side defeating Real Colorado in a 4:3 penalty-kick tiebreaker after a 2-2 thriller this evening.
The MLS NEXT Quarterfinals are spread across two days, as the U16’s play tomorrow, Tuesday, June 17, and the U18’s play on Wednesday, June 17. The Quarterfinal stage marks the three-game minimum for each side entering RSL in Win or go Home territory.
RSL U16 - Opening day three of MLS NEXT Cup on the stadium field, a wet and muddy pitch from the morning rain provided a canvas for a nine-goal contest. Ultimately doubling up on Charlotte FC, 6-3, the RSL Academy side experienced all but a smooth ride.
Just seven minutes into the match, a turnover on the back line contributed to a quick and easy goal for Charlotte. Already down one, Charlotte had a quality look on goal that RSL Goalkeeper Konstantinos Kyriazis got a paw on, but a dangerous rebound on the save saw Charlotte fire on target again, but a goal-line clearance kept the Claret-and-Cobalt within one.
The crucial save proved to spark Real Salt Lake’s attack. Three minutes later, RSL distributed a simple pass off a goal kick to centerback Royce Mihov, who played a long ball over the top finding Van Parker barreling down the pitch. Parker slotted his shot to the far post for the equalizer as the Canadian forward scored his second of the match and fourth of the competition in the 27th minute. Parker also added an assist to his goal contribution tally, chopping one back across the middle to Hunter Peralta in the 75th minute.
A back-and-forth battle ensued through the rainy morning after Reignen Magsino drove down the throat of Charlotte’s defense, clinically slotting his shot to the lower corner boosting RSL’s advantage to two in the 53rd minute. The following twenty minutes observed the scoreline change from 3-1 to 3-2 up to 4-2 to 4-3.
Back-to-back goals for the Claret-and-Cobalt from Peralta and a stoppage-time goal from Easton Wilson buried Charlotte, earning a berth into the Quarterfinals for RSL.
What’s Next - RSL U16s advance to the Quarterfinals, facing off against Orlando City SC, who defeated Columbus Crew 3-1 earlier this morning. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 am Local Time / 10:00 am MT on Tuesday.
Team Leaders -
Goals: Parker: 4 / Hashimoto: 1 / Magsino: 1 / Martin: 1/ Peralta: 1 / Wilson: 1
Assists: Theurer: 3 / Mihov: 1 / Parker: 1 / Silva: 1
RSL U18 - In a Rocky Mountain Real v Real matchup, both sides eyed an appearance in Wednesday's quarterfinals. RSL goalkeeper Will Mackay was called into action early in the match, making a fully outstretched push save in the seventh minute. Mackay was left on an island 15 minutes later after a Real Colorado poked a long throughball, breaking multiple Claret-and-Cobalt lines finding an onrushing attacker. In the 1v1 situation, Mackay stepped off his line attempting to shrink Real Colorado’s shooting angles but the attempt did not prevail; Colorado went ahead in the 22’.
Real Salt Lake was held scoreless in the first half after a stale offensive performance. Starting to click offensively, RSL equalized the match in the 71st minute after second-half substitute Diego Rocio found himself on the ball on the left wing. Firing after taking a touch to control, Rocio’s shot was deflected by a Colorado defender, popping the ball up in the air. Chase Duke rose up to the occasion, meeting the descending ball near the goalline, heading home his first of the competition.
Sparking life in Real Salt Lake, the Herriman-based side started pushing on the front foot. The attacking spell was short-lived, however, as things turned for the worse in the last ten minutes of the match. RSL conceded a penalty kick in the 80th minute - which Colorado converted - and then earned a straight red card as the clock closed in on 90:00.
Down a man searching for a lifeline, RSL clinged on its final chance. Awarded a freekick inside the final third Antonio Riquelme stood over the ball. Opting to go for goal Riquelme sent a bending ball into the near post upper corner, giving the keeper no chance and sending the match to the PK tiebreaker.
Down 3-2 in the top of the fourth round of penalty kicks, Mackay took matters into his own hands. The Utah native Mackay saved not one but two attempts in back-to-back rounds, setting up Riquelme to put the final nail in the coffin. Tasting a Quarterfinals berth, Riquelme juggled the ball up to the spot, placed it, and calmly slotted it to the bottom left corner, earning RSL the win and advancement.
What’s Next - RSL U18s advance to the Quarterfinals, facing off against Philadelphia Union or Colorado Rapids pending tonight's result. Kickoff is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18th at 11:25 am Local Time / 10:25 am MT.
Team Leaders -
Goals: Riquelme: 2 / Cantafio: 1 / Duke: 1 / Estella: 1
Assists: Carter: 1 / Gio Villa: 1
Clean Sheets: Mackay: 1
Real Salt Lake Academy is the official MLS NEXT affiliate of MLS side Real Salt Lake. Leading Major League Soccer in homegrown signees, RSL welcomed four homegrown signees earlier this year, welcoming Omar Marquez, Aiden Hezarkhani, Owen Anderson and Gio Villa to its 2025 class. The quartet of RSL Academy products boosts the number of homegrown signings to 45, after all four inked their deals with the Claret-and-Cobalt.
