Philadelphia Union went head-to-head with Portugal’s S.L. Benfica, falling 2-0 in the U-16 Final of Snow Bowl 2026 Presented by The SWAG and YSC Academy.
Meeting for the second time in the tournament — this time with a trophy on the line — it was Benfica forward Raimo Djalo who delivered in the biggest moment. After being held scoreless through the group stage and semifinal rounds, Djalo scored his first two goals of the tournament in Saturday’s final to lift the Portuguese side to the championship.
From the opening whistle, both teams battled for control, understanding how critical the first goal would be in a final. With Union Academy players lining the sideline and energizing the atmosphere at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex, the stage carried championship intensity.
The first clear chance came from Benfica when Rúben Marques attempted an acrobatic bicycle kick inside the box, but Union goalkeeper Kenan Livadic reacted sharply to tip the effort off the crossbar.
Benfica’s breakthrough arrived in the 17th minute following a chaotic sequence inside the six-yard box. A long ball into the area created confusion, and when the clearance deflected loose, Djalo reacted quickest to slot home the opener.
The Boys in Blue responded by increasing their press, forcing Benfica into tighter spaces and limiting transition opportunities. Philadelphia nearly created a breakthrough before halftime, but a tactical foul halted a promising counterattack and preserved the 1-0 margin at the break.
Trailing by one, the Union pushed for an equalizer in the second half. Captain Landon Mulvena delivered a dangerous corner in the 42nd minute that found Timoni Gbalajobi at the far post, but Benfica goalkeeper Manuel Pires rose confidently to claim it.
Benfica doubled its advantage in the 54th minute through a sweeping counterattack. After captain Francisco Wang carried the ball through midfield, Afonso Baldé reached the endline and cut a pass back toward the penalty spot. Djalo met it in stride to complete his brace — and cap a breakout performance when it mattered most.
Philadelphia pressed relentlessly through the closing stages, with Jayden Kouadio striking the post moments after the second goal, but Benfica’s defense stood firm to secure the 2-0 result and the U-16 title.