Philadelphia Union U16s top Chicago Fire, advance to semifinals in GA Cup

Iverson Brisma scored a late winner and the Philadelphia Union Academy U16 team advanced to the semifinals of the Premier Division in the Generation adidas Cup finals with a 2-1 win over Chicago Fire on Tuesday afternoon.

Brisma’s goal was set up by a strong run down the right flank by midfielder Seth Kuhn, who delivered an angled ball to an onrushing Brisma at the far post. It was Brisma’s first goal in the competition.

After a scoreless first half, Chicago Fire took a lead just after the break on a penalty kick, but Chad Letts found an equalizer with his seventh goal of the competition (dating back to qualification).

With the victory, the Union topped Group B with nine points while outscoring opponents 11-3 in the three games. C.F. Monterrey finished second with six points after a 7-0 win over New England Revolution on Tuesday.

The Union play Mexican club Tigres UANL in the semifinal match on Thursday. Tigres went 2-1-0 in Group D with wins over Houston Dynamo and Portland Timbers and a loss to D.C. United.

The starting XI for the Union on Tuesday was Kristopher Shakes, Nykolas Sessock, JD Wagner, Sean Smolyn, Kevin Escobar, Seth Kuhn, Michael Pellegrino, Brenden Aaronson, Axel Picazo, Aziz Saidi and Chad Letts. Escobar, Saidi and Kuhn were the only 17-year-olds in the starting lineup (GA Cup is a U17 competition). Marco Bla and Brisma both subbed in off the bench in the second half.