16-year-old soccer star Gustavo Caraballo, who recently made history as the youngest MLS player in Orlando City history, backed up the hype with a brace to lead the U18 squad to the Generation Adidas title. The second was an overtime winner to edge a stingy Colorado Rapids defense 2-1.

Three minutes was all the Venezuelan-American forward needed to make an impact, as headers from Justin Ellis and Dylan Judelson set up a sweet volley from just inside the 18. The goal marked the third consecutive game where Orlando City scored inside the first three minutes and was the first time an elite Colorado Rapids defense had conceded through the tournament.

GUSTAVOOOO 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2jqGx9rdXx

— Orlando City SC Academy (@OCSCAcademy) April 20, 2025

Following that was a cagey chess match as both sides utilized a highly organized mid-block to limit clean looks. For the Rapids, the physically dominant center-back duo of Vincent Rinaldi and Grant Gilmore led an effort to swarm Ellis anytime he touched the ball, limiting the looks the tournament’s top scorer had to make an impact. For Orlando City, Colin Guske, another highly touted prospect who has already made his MLS debut, performed admirably in a box-to-box midfield role, whether intercepting passes or winning fouls to slow momentum.

The next clean look for either team came in the 31st minute, and the Rapids took full advantage. A perfect left-footed in-swinging corner by Max Simpson met the head of Rinaldi for an equalizing goal just before halftime.

The following minutes before and after intermission was the Jaden Chan Tack show, as the speedy Colorado Rapids left back used his blistering pace to penetrate the back line, forcing narrow 1-v-1 saves from Juan Rojas. 

Outside of a few half chances, the remainder of the second half took on a similar shape to the first, with Ellis battling Gilmore and Rinaldi and both teams utilizing mid-blocks that limited the other to half chances. And so regulation ended 1-1, setting up ten minutes of overtime split into two halves.

Poetically, the match essentially ended the same way it started. With seconds to go in the first overtime period, just like with the first goal, Ellis found Guske, who found Caraballo topping his first effort by delivering a gorgeous curler into the top corner so well struck that it froze the impressive Kendall Starks in goal. 

GUSTAVO IN EXTRA TIME 🙌 pic.twitter.com/2LctVBzTGS

— Orlando City SC Academy (@OCSCAcademy) April 20, 2025

Man of the Match: Gustavo Caraballo, Orlando City

Tournament Top Scorer: Justin Ellis, Orlando City

Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Kendall Starks, Colorado Rapids

Tournament MVP: Gustavo Caraballo, Orlando City

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