It's been a big weekend for the league's young talent so far in the MLS Week 8 slate, with several under the age of 20 making their mark. Seemingly in every game featured at least one promising youth international, many of which domestic.
In other words: It was a big weekend for the #PlayYourKids crowd. (Stares directly into Matt Doyle's soul.)
Here's what you may have missed:
Cade Cowell
San Jose Earthquakes 16-year-old midfielder Cade Cowell made his mark in his first MLS start.
The youngster became the youngest goal-scorer in club history with a perfectly placed strike from outside the area in the 59th minute of his team's eventual 3-2 defeat to the LA Galaxy.
Saturday's match was Cowell's third MLS appearance. He figures to have more chances for minutes after the departure of Magnus Eriksson.
Brenden Aaronson
Aaronson burst onto the scene last year with the Philadelphia Union and has gone from strength-to-strength in 2020. A constant in Philly's starting XI, Aaronson picked up his second goal of the season in his team's 4-1 romp over D.C. United:
Daryl Dike
Daryl Dike has had a huge week.
The 2020 MLS SuperDraft first round selection earned his professional debut with Orlando City last weekend, firing a goal and an assist. He carried his momentum midweek where he bagged a brace in Orlando's win over Nashville SC then stayed in the lineup this weekend in Orlando's first-ever win over Atlanta United, in which he picked up an assist.
That's three goals and two assists in 242 minutes if you're counting at home.
Jesus Ferreira and Ricardo Pepi
Jesus Ferreira also got on the scoresheet in FC Dallas' 3-1 win over Minnesota United, wrangling himself free in the box and slotting home the finish to the far post in the 12th minute:
Ferreira was joined in the starting XI by 17-year-old rising star Ricardo Pepi, who had an assist. Teammates Bryan Reynolds (19) and Brandon Servania (21) came off the bench as Dallas continue to give chances to their young players.
Cole Bassett
One of a handful of eligible players for the US youth national team to score this weekend, Colorado's Cole Bassett also found the back of the net.
Bassett, 19, scorched home a finish at the back end of a counterattack for the Rapids' only goal in a 1-1 draw against Sporting Kansas City:
Gianluca Busio
Bassett's Rapids didn't earn all three points because fellow teenager Gianluca Busio also scored.
Sporting Kansas City's Busio, 18, cashed the equalizer in the 67th minute from distance:
Busio, typically an attacking player, has featured as a front-footed defensive midfielder for Sporting KC in recent games. An interesting development to watch for the youngster who has attracted European interest.
And more...
There were so many US youth international players to make an impact this weekend. American Soccer Now's Brian Sciaretta did a great job of summarizing it in a couple of tweets:
The future is bright.
