Fire’s Christopher Morales Shines in MLS NEXT All-Star Game
Charlotte is at the epicenter of North American soccer this week, as it plays host to MLS All-Star Week.
The event features the best of the best (mostly) from Major League Soccer and Liga MX.
While the pros do battle in Uptown Charlotte, however, the youth have descended on nearby Matthews. The suburb welcomed talented up-and-coming footballers for the MLS NEXT All-Star Game.
Mecklenburg County Sportsplex was the venue for Monday’s clash between East and West. The East team came out on top, trumping their counterparts 6-1 behind a first-half offensive explosion.
The game brought together the finest players aged 18 and under from the United States, including one of Chicago’s very own in Christopher Morales.
The 2010-born midfielder has been a standout performer for the Fire Academy and was rewarded with an All-Star selection. He delivered in kind, starting the game and providing three assists.
Morales the Midfield Maestro
Most Fire fans probably haven’t heard of the headline-stealing youngster. That’s hardly a surprise, as Morales is still only 15 years of age. Even so, it is worth keeping an eye on a player who will certainly be gunning for a first-team place in years to come. Morales’ natural position is as a central midfielder with attacking creativity known to be one of his biggest assets. He has also been commended for his defensive tenacity.
Morales features regularly for the Fire’s U-16 squad, led by head coach Sammy Castellanos. His performances have not gone unnoticed by the Fire Academy leadership, as he recently made his MLS NEXT Pro debut for Chicago Fire II, coming on as a late substitute in a 3-0 defeat to Atlanta United 2 in early June.
Unfazed by the Big Stage
Morales had big shoes to fill when stepping onto the pitch in Matthews. The Fire have a legacy of producing quality talents and have been represented in four straight MLS NEXT All-Star Games. The 15-year-old was completely unfazed by the occasion, though, dominating the game from the onset.
Donning the number 10 kit, Morales notched his first assist just six minutes in. He claimed a loose ball just outside the box and picked out teammate Oscar Avilez on the left flank. The DC United winger cut to his left and smashed his finish home, giving Team East a 1-0 lead.
The Columbus Crew’s Jamil Danjaji doubled the East’s lead just two minutes later, after which Morales again stepped into the limelight. The latter played in Nashville SC’s Liam Stribling from behind with a delectable line-breaking pass. Stribling duly finished off the counter-attack, making it 3-0 inside 12 minutes.
It appeared for a while that Morales and co. were taking their foot off the gas. Still, a fourth goal eventually came courtesy of Marcus Singleton II of Metropolitan Oval Academy. Team East caught a second wind as a result, and Morales and Avilez connected for a second time on the night in the 38th minute. Morales chested down a cross from a teammate near the penalty spot before playing a cheeky backheel pass into the path of Avilez. The latter made no mistake, smashing a first-time effort into the top corner to complete his brace and grant Morales a hat-trick of assists.
The Chicagoan came off the pitch for the second half, as Team East capped off a 6-1 triumph.
A Bright Future Ahead
It’s far too early to predict the course of Morales’ career. He has undeniable talent, but has several years of key development ahead.
Even so, it is a welcome sight for fans of the Men in Red to see academy products doing well on the national stage. While Morales lost out on the MVP award to Avilez, he has earned the plaudits of many a fan.
The Fire faithful will hope Morales’ outstanding showing is just the start of scintillating All-Star Week performances by Chicago players.
Philip Zinckernagel will represent the first team in Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game, his second appearance in the event.
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