The U20 MLS Players Making a Name for Themselves in the Knockout Stages

Nineteen-year-old Nathan Ordaz, the fourth-ever homegrown singing for Los Angeles Football Club, had waited a long time to score his first goal with the first team. Twelve appearances, to be exact. 

But it only took one more appearance to score his second goal

With LAFC already up 2-0 against Real Salt Lake in their round of 16 matchup, Ordaz added insurance in the 62nd minute with a near-post run down the left side of the box. He redirected a cross to beat the goalkeeper to the near left post and make it 3-0.

Ordaz is one of three players in Leagues Cup 2023 under the age of 20 who have scored goals for their teams. He joined New England’s Esmir Bajraktarevic and Inter Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi in scoring in the round of 16. As the tournament has been a showcase for the established stars of Major League Soccer and LIGA MX clubs, it’s also been a chance for young players, many recently coming from reserve teams, to have their moments with the first club.

Ordaz had only made 11 appearances during the MLS season coming into the tournament. Bajraktarevic had appeared in ten MLS matches. Cremaschi, the “veteran” of the group, had appeared in 18 MLS matches, tallying a goal and three assists coming in.

Bajraktarevic was the only one of the three not to have his first first-team goal heading into the round of 16. That came in in the 78th minute of New England’s eventual loss to Querétaro. After receiving a pass at the top of the box, Bajraktarevic took a touch as he spun around and then smashed a shot off the valley to equalize for his club.

His tally wound up being the matchday goal of the night.

“The first goal, it’s a great feeling,” he told the Chronicle Sun. “It definitely feels like the work has paid off."

Ordaz’s first goal came in the round of 32.

He had gotten behind an FC Juarez defender and received a perfect ball from teammate Dénis Bouanga. With nothing but space between Ordaz and the FC Juarez goalkeeper he was bearing down on, he found his spot and hit it, putting the ball into the back of the net.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Ordaz told media postgame. “I feel like I’ve had other chances to score in games and thank god it finally went in today. I was happy.”

Cremaschi has already scored his first goal with the first team during the MLS season, but he shined in the round of 16 coming off the bench for Inter Miami CF against FC Dallas.

Just one minute after coming into the match in the 64th minute, Cremaschi scored off an assist from Jordi Alba (just like his teammate Lionel Messi) to help Inter Miami to pull within a goal of FC Dallas. He later calmly converted his penalty kick to secure his team’s spot in the quarterfinals.

"I asked him and he was convinced [about] taking the shot and he wanted to do the fifth penalty," said his coach Gerardo Tata” Martinez, following the match. "He didn't have any problems. Second, because he was one of the players who had the fewest minutes and above that, we saw in the 30 minutes that he played that he was very confident."

While Cremaschi had been getting regular starts coming into the tournament, he’s talked about understanding he needs to fight for his spot on the team. 

“We’re young players, but we need to be respected, too, we’re not scared or afraid of anyone,” he told the Miami Herald. “I know what I have to do to maintain my position on the team, even with the big names coming.”

Ordaz and Bajraktarevic may not be as close to starting regularly for their first teams. Still, the taste of success in Leagues Cup 2023 could be the jumping-off point each of them needs to earn more minutes for the MLS regular season.