BRADENTON, Fla. - The 2025 USL Academy Finals championship game will be a rematch of last year’s final as Indy Eleven and AC Connecticut meet once again. Saturday’s semifinal action from IMG Academy showed off clutch performances, powerful goals and big saves from some of USL Academy’s powerhouse clubs.

AC Connecticut came into its match against Lexington SC confident after a 3-2 comeback win over Sporting JAX in the Quarterfinals. Lexington controlled the ball in much of the first half, keeping AC Connecticut in a defensive shape and back in its own half. But when the second half began, the defending runners-up stepped on the gas and was able to put more pressure on Lexington’s defense. The first goal of the game came after a defensive lapse in Lexington’s box set up Michael Asare to lay it off to Danny Istambouli who fired it into the net. AC Connecticut kept up the offensive pressure after it took the lead, doubling its advantage 10 minutes later thanks to a rocketed strike from Bryan Toro, assisted by Asare.

“I think it was the best game we’ve played this tournament,” said AC Connecticut Head Coach Antony Howard. “We knew we had to contain Lexington. [In the] second half we decided to come out a bit more aggressive and fortunately it paid off.” 

Indy Eleven came into the tournament as the team to beat, having won the 2024 Academy Finals and 2025 Pathway Classic U20 Men’s Elite title, but were faced with a tough opponent in Utah Red Wolves SC. Utah was on the front foot for most of regulation, forcing a strong save off the line from a corner kick in the first half from Academy Contract goalkeeper Ryan Hunsucker. The game was played tightly by both sides and, despite a shot off the post from the Red Wolves in the second half of extra time, neither was able to find the breakthrough as the game finished 0-0 to be decided on penalty kicks. Hunsucker made two confident saves in the shootout and Victor Aguilar converted the winning kick to send Indy Eleven to back-to-back championship match appearances.

“I’ve got a team that refuses to lose and they don’t want to learn how,” said Indy Eleven Head Coach Kiki Wallace. “It was similar to last year when we went to [extra time] twice and one of them to PKs. To not concede a goal to this point is fantastic and the defense has been a big part of why.”

Watch AC Connecticut try to redeem its 2024 loss against Indy Eleven tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET, streaming live on SportsEngine Play. Lexington SC will take on Utah Red Wolves SC in the third place game at 9 a.m. ET.