Yutaro Tsukada (塚田 裕太郎, Tsukada Yutaro, born 28 July 2001) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club Orlando City.

Early life

Tsukada was born in Tokyo, Japan.[1] He played youth football with FC Tokyo.[2]

College career

Daytona State College

In 2020, Tsukada began attending Daytona State College.[3] On 11 September 2021, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–2 victory over the Georgia Military College Bulldogs.[4] At the end of his sophomore season, he was named to the USC First Team All-America, the NJCAA DI All-American Team, Junior College Division I Men All-East Region, and the Region 8 All-Region Team and the Region 8 Player of the Year.[5][6] He departed the school holding 6 school records - most goals in a season (20), most goals in 2 seasons (26), most hat tricks (4), fastest goal in school history (32 seconds), most free kicks scored (4), and most points (63).[5]

West Virginia University

In 2022, he transferred to West Virginia University to play for the men's soccer team in NCAA Division I.[7] He made his debut on August 25 against the Robert Morris Colonials.[8] On October 11, 2022, he scored his first goal in a victory over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks.[9] In October 2023, he was named the WVU Student-Athlete of the Week and the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week,[10][11] and earned WVU Student-Athlete of the Week honors a second time in November.[12] At the end of his senior season, he was named to the All-Sun Belt First Team, Sun Belt All-Tournament Team, All-Southeast Region First Team, Scholar All-South Region First Team, TopDrawerSoccer Best XI Second Team, All-America Third Team, and the College Soccer News All-America Second Team.[13][14][15][16]

Club career

New Mexico United U23

In 2022, Tsukada joined New Mexico United U23, the development team of USL Championship team New Mexico United, in USL League Two.[17] On 26 May, Tsukada made his debut for the club and scored his first goal in a 2–2 draw against the Colorado International Soccer Academy.[18] Tsukada made four appearances for the team and scored three goals.[19]

Capital FC

In 2023, he joined Capital FC in their inaugural season in USL League Two after the team had severed ties with the Portland Timbers.[20] On 28 May, Tsukada his first goal for the club, the equalizing goal of a 3–1 win at PDX FC.[21] Tsukada would score five goals for the club.[22]

Orlando City B

At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Tsukada was selected in the first round (25th overall) by Orlando City.[23][24] In March 2024, he signed a one-year contract with the reserve affiliate, Orlando City B, in MLS Next Pro.[25][26] On 16 March, he made his professional debut, scoring a free kick in a 3–2 victory over Atlanta United 2.[27] Tsukada would score seven goals and assist in seven more, totaling 14 goal contributions, the second most for the team behind Alex Freeman.[28]

Orlando City

In May 2024, Tsukada signed two short-term loans with the first team.[29][30] He made his Major League Soccer debut on 15 May in a substitute appearance against Inter Miami.[31] On 15 August, Tsukada signed a contract with the first team through 2025, with club options in 2026 and 2027.[32]

On 8 February 2025, during a pre-season friendly against CF Montréal, Tsukada suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament. On 25 February, it was announced by the club that Tsukada had undergone a successful surgery to reconstruct the ligament and that he was placed onto the season ending injury list.[33][34]

Career statistics

As of 20 October 2024[35]
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
New Mexico United U23 2022[36] USL League Two 4 3 – – – 4 3
Orlando City B 2024 MLS Next Pro 22 7 1 0 – – 23 7
Orlando City (loan) 2024 Major League Soccer 1 0 0 0 – 1[a] 0 2 0
Orlando City 2024 2 0 0 0 – – 2 0
2025 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Career total 29 10 1 0 0 0 1 0 31 10
  1. ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup

References

  1. ^ Zeaman, Zach (15 September 2023). "Meet WVU men's soccer's dynamic duo". The Daily Athenaeum.
  2. ^ Citro, Michael (15 March 2024). "Orlando City Signs Draft Pick Yutaro Tsukada to MLS NEXT Pro Contract". The Mane Land.
  3. ^ "Yutaro Tsukada Daytona State profile". Daytona State College.
  4. ^ "Tsukada Picks up Hat Trick in 4-2 Victory over Georgia Military College". Daytona State College. 14 September 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Spotlight Player of the Year: Yutaro Tsukada". Daytona State College.
  6. ^ "The NJCAA and the United Soccer Coaches Announced the All-American Teams for Fall 2021". Daytona State College. 24 January 2022.
  7. ^ Mitchin, Joe (8 June 2022). "Stratford Completes 2022 Class". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  8. ^ Mitchin, Joe (25 August 2022). "No. 6 WVU Wins Season Opener". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  9. ^ Mitchin, Joe (11 October 2022). "WVU Strolls to Second Straight Win". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  10. ^ "Tsukada Named Student-Athlete of the Week". West Virginia Mountaineers. 2 October 2023.
  11. ^ Grossman, Adam (3 October 2023). "Tsukada Named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  12. ^ "Tsukada Named Student-Athlete of the Week". West Virginia Mountaineers. 6 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Yutaro Tsukada WVU profile". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  14. ^ Grossman, Adam (8 December 2023). "Caldeira, Tsukada Named United Soccer Coaches All-Americans". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  15. ^ Grossman, Adam (15 December 2023). "Tsukada, Lee Named Scholar All-Americans". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  16. ^ Grossman, Adam (19 December 2023). "Caldeira, Tsukada Collect National Honors". West Virginia Mountaineers.
  17. ^ "New Mexico United U-23 Announces Three Signings to Inaugural Roster". New Mexico United. 24 May 2022.
  18. ^ "CISA at New Mexico United U23". USL League Two. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  19. ^ "Yutaro Tsukada". USL League Two. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  20. ^ "Announcing the new "CFC" - a letter from the director". Capital FC. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  21. ^ "PDX FC vs Capital FC". Sofascore. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  22. ^ "Capital FC". Sofascore. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  23. ^ Trinone, Anjelica (19 December 2023). "Yutaro Tsukada drafted in first round of MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City". WBOY-TV.
  24. ^ Rollins, Sean (19 December 2023). "2024 MLS Draft: Orlando City Selects Winger Yutaro Tsukada at No. 25 Overall". The Mane Land.
  25. ^ "Orlando City B signs MLS SuperDraft selection Yutaro Tsukada". Orlando City SC. 15 March 2024.
  26. ^ Redfern, Kevin (15 March 2024). "Former WVU soccer forward Yutaro Tsukada signs with Orlando City B of MLS Next Pro". WTRF-TV.
  27. ^ "Match Report: Orlando City B wins season opener 3-2 against Atlanta United 2". Orlando City SC. 16 March 2024.
  28. ^ "MLS NEXT Pro Player Stats". MLS Next Pro. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  29. ^ "Orlando City SC signs Yutaro Tsukada to short-term MLS agreement". Orlando City SC. 11 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Orlando City SC signs Yutaro Tsukada to short-term MLS agreement". Orlando City SC. 15 May 2024.
  31. ^ "Match report: Orlando City SC plays to scoreless draw against Inter Miami CF". Orlando City SC. 15 May 2024.
  32. ^ "Orlando City SC signs forward Yutaro Tsukada to first team deal". Orlando City SC. 20 August 2024.
  33. ^ "Orlando City SC forward Yutaro Tsukada undergoes successful surgery". Orlando City. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  34. ^ "ORL 1–2 CFM". Flashscore. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  35. ^ Yutaro Tsukada at Soccerway
  36. ^ "Yutaro Tsukada 2022 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yutaro_Tsukada
No tags for this post.