Two Lions to be featured during Homegrown Game
Major League Soccer’s top academy prospects will play Chivas de Guadalajara’s U-20 team in the 2019 MLS Homegrown Game on July 30 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Kissimmee.
The Homegrown Game has been an annual showcase since 2014. It will kick off at 5 p.m. on the eve of the MLS All-Star Game at Orlando’s Exploria Stadium.
Orlando City SC has two representatives on the team: goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar and forward Benji Michel, who has made six 2019 regular-season appearances with the Lions and received his first call to a U.S. U-23 camp in June.
The Homegrown roster includes players from 15 of MLS’ 24 teams and is coached by Orlando City SC academy director Marcelo Neveleff.
Five of the 22 MLS players — goalkeeper David Ochoa, defender Aboubacar Keita, midfielders Edwin Cerillo and Brandon Servania and forward Justin Rennicks — were part of the United States U-20 men’s national team that reached the quarterfinals of the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in June.
FC Dallas has the most players on the roster of any MLS team with four.
Every Homegrown Game since 2015 has pitted MLS players against either the Mexican U-20 men’s national team or a U-20 Mexican club team. The Homegrown team carries a 0-2-2 record into this year’s exhibition.
Chivas de Guadalajara’s U-20 team won the 2019 Liga MX Clausura U-20 title and typically features players who have competed with the club’s reserve team. The Chivas roster will be named at a later date.
Fans can visit MLSSoccer.com to purchase $10 tickets that provide admission to both the Homegrown Game at 5 p.m. and the MLS All-Stars Skills Challenge at 8 p.m.