Photo Kevin Barrett

The Philadelphia Union Academy Under-18s faced reigning champions Botafogo RJ in the Dallas Cup U19 final last Sunday afternoon. They went down 2-0 but were able to come back at the end of the second half, forcing the match to extra time. The sides were still unable to be separated, but tempers flared, and a Botafogo player was sent off before the match went to penalties.

Both keepers made a shootout save each, but Botafogo’s captain missed his kick in sudden death in the seventh round, giving the trophy to Philadelphia. Philly became the third American team to ever win the tournament, and the first to win it since FC Dallas nine years ago in 2017. 

Union II midfielder Willyam Ferreira, six academy amateurs who have played for Union II in the 2026 season, and four who have been on a Union II bench,  participated in the match as either starters or substitutes. 

In Advance

This year, MLS NEXT changed the Generation Adidas Cup tournament structure to include just the U15 and U16 age divisions, so instead, the Union U 18s headed to Dallas for a different international competition during the Union and Union II’s international break, the Dallas Cup.

The Union U18s had a perfect group stage. They beat Toluca of Mexico 1-0 on March 29, Sao Paulo of Brazil 2-0 on March 30, and St Louis City FC of MLS 3-0 on April 1. Goalkeeper and Saint Joseph’s (PA) University commit Alex Smith kept a clean sheet throughout the round. 

The Boys in Blue moved on to the semifinal round against CF Monterrey, where academy amateur and recent Union II debutant Nehan Hasan bagged the go-ahead goal. But the Union then conceded its first goal of the tournament to send the match to extra time and then penalties. Keeper Smith made a crucial save in the shootout to send his team on to face defending champions SAF Botafogo in Sunday’s Gordon Jago Super Group final.

How the match played out

First Half

The Union defense was shuffled from the semifinal match against Monterrey. Nicholas Greer slid from left back to right, and left back Max Owusu-Antwi entered the starting lineup. Six Union players had played 110 minutes 48 hours prior in the semifinal on top of the previous three games in four days. 

Botafogo opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Their number nine, Samuel Alvez, received a through ball to break past the Union’s back line and placed his shot between the legs of Smith. 

Union II academy amateur striker Theo Reed had a breaking chance to equalize in a one-on-one with the Botafogo keeper, but got caught in two minds and had the ball taken from his feet. Just after, his strike partner and fellow Union II academy amateur, John Ruf, saw yellow for an unnecessary sliding tackle on a defender. 

Referee Sanchez Bass called a foul on virtually every contact between players, preventing either side from really settling into a momentum with or without the ball. 

Philadelphia had a great opportunity to equalize just before the first-half stoppage time, but the header was cleared off the line by Botafogo’s goalscorer, Samuel Alvez.

Second Half

Union II academy amateur forward Nehan Hasan replaced Reed at the break. The Union started playing a 3-3-2-2 when in possession, with academy amateur Lennon Harrington, who plays both the center back and holding midfielder positions for Union II, frequently stepping forward into the attack. 

Botafogo extended their lead right away, volleying the ball around the Union’s box defenders to put it away. Forward Ivan Molina found the back of the net and celebrated by removing his shirt. He earned a yellow card. 

Union II academy amateur right back Matteo Gallegos entered for Max Owusu-Antwi in the 61st minute, and recent Union Academy acquisition Jett Harrison replaced holding midfielder Timo Mendoza in the 66th minute. 

Philadelphia attacker Hasan had a scoring chance in the 67th, but his shot went directly to the keeper. 

Left back Jack Illig replaced holding midfielder Matheus De Paula in the 73rd minute. 

The Union earned a penalty in the 76th minute after the Botafogo keeper came off of his line and hit Philadelphia striker Ruf at the top of the box. Willyam Ferreria, one of six Union players to play 110 minutes on Friday, stepped up to the spot and buried it to cut the deficit in half.

Ruf then had a shot hit the crossbar in the 83rd minute, but the keeper was able to push it over for a corner. 

Attacker Erik Guzman replaced Illig, giving the Union an extra man up front for the final push. It proved to be enough, as Philadelphia midfielder Tyler Gladstone found the late equalizer after dribbling through the top of the box. He too saw yellow for removing his shirt, as the rule book demands. 

After being called offside later in stoppage time, Willyam Ferreria was pushed in the back by a Botafogo defender. The referee did not issue a card for the action. After stoppage time ended, a fight broke out between the two teams that included a Botafogo coach.

With the score level after 90 minutes, the match continued to two ten-minute periods of extra time.

Extra Time

Botafogo came back out on the front foot, but weren’t able to capitalize on their chances in front of goal for the first extra time period. 

Forward Gunnar Graham entered for Erik Guzman in the 105th minute. 

John Ruf was pulled down by the neck just outside the box in the 108th minute. Another fight broke out between the two teams once the whistle was blown, and the referee sent off the defender who committed the foul. The kick was taken four minutes after the foul was called. Ferreira put the ball just wide of the post.

The match went on to penalties. Philadelphia shot first. Botafogo’s captain, Danilo, missed his kick in the seventh round to end the match.

Three Points, plus three

1. Lennon Harrington is an incredibly versatile player for his age. With Union II, coach Ryan Richter likes him as a late change in the midfield, but he is more than capable at both the six and the center back. 
2. The tournament’s five matches in eight days clearly took a toll on the Union squad, especially after playing 110 minutes two days before the final.
3. Tyler Gladstone is a refreshing presence out wide and on set pieces. He’s been on the bench for Union II earlier in the season, and is certainly worth a look.
4. YSC Academy twins Ronan and Declan Sullivan, the middle brothers of Quinn and Cavan, spent the international break with the Bangladesh U-20 National Team, where they lifted the SAFF U20 Championship by beating India in the final. Ronan Sullivan played a key role in the team, while Declan made a brief appearance from the bench. The pair were eligible for Bangladesh through their maternal grandmother. 
5. Eleven players involved with Union II participated in Dallas Cup final, including contracted Union II player Willyam Ferreira, whose penalty brought Union II back into the match. Six academy players who participated in this final have made their Union II debuts this season (Lennon Harrington, Timo Mendoza, Matheus De Paula, John Ruf, Theo Reed, and Nehan Hasan), and four others have been named to a 2026 Union II bench (Alex Smith, Andrew Craig, Matteo Gallegos, and Tyler Gladstone). 
6. Union Academy Goalkeeper Alex Smith was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. 

Union Lineup

Starters: Alex Smith; Nicholas Greer, Lennon Harrington, Andrew Craig ©, Max Owusu-Atnwi (Matteo Gallegos– 61’), Timo Mendoza (Jett Harrison– 66’), Matheus De Paula (Jack Illig- 73’) (Erik Guzman– 86’) (Gunnar Graham– 105’), Tyler Gladstone, Willyam Ferreira, John Ruf, Theo Reed (Nehan Hasan- 46’)

Substitutes: Charli Lorenz; Brett Seemuller, Kevin Sullivan, Peter Doran, Chuka Ebo

Goals

Botafogo: Alvez– 10’
Botafogo: Molina– 47’
Union: Ferreria– 78’
Union: Gladstone– 90+’

Whistle & Flags

REF: Sanchez Bass, AR1: Tristan Vermuelen, AR2: Wilson Belton

Shootout

Union 18s  – 6			Botafogo  – 5
v Lima			v Smith
Harrington	goal	1	Mauricio	goal
Ferreira	saved	2	Lira	goal
Ruf	goal	3	Erik	saved
Harrison	goal	4	Gabriel	goal
Craig	goal	5	Vitinho	goal
Gladstone	goal	6	Felipe	goal
Greer	goal	7	Danilo	miss