Development Academy U-15/16, U-17/18 Playoffs Day 2 Recap
New England Revolution U-15/16 vs. Sporting Kansas City U-15/16
(Via U.S. Soccer) – Thursday’s first Feature Game highlighted the New England Revolution and Sporting Kansas City, two teams competing to advance in the Development Academy Playoffs. As both sides lost on the first day of Playoffs, this game was critical if either club were to advance out of Group G.
The game was fairly even early on, with both teams playing conservatively and holding back offensively.
In the 15th minute, Sporting KC broke the deadlock and struck first through forward Grayson Barber, who scored after a ball fell generously to his feet in the box to give Kansas City the 1-0 lead.
Just two minutes later, Colin Innes made a great run that was picked out by a teammate. Innes took one touch to beat the defender and another to hit the ball past the Revolution goalkeeper to make it 2-0 to Sporting.
New England’s defense played better following the two goals, stopping a few chances from KC until Barber whipped in a cross from the right flank to a wide open Max Rugova, who easily tapped it into the goal for a 3-0 advantage in the 40th minute.
With goal differential in the back of their mind, Sporting KC didn’t take their foot off the pedal. Cameron Duke carried the ball into the box and creatively back heeled the ball into the path of teammate Mason Visconti, who buried it into the net eight minutes after halftime to create a four-goal lead.
Sporting KC scored again in the 65th minute to take an extended 5-0 advantage. Dontell Gilyard put in a great floating ball from the right side, combining with Abdu Kikhia, who did well to gently head it over keeper and into the goal.
Kansas City stopped every chance from New England in an attempt to keep the clean sheet, but New England continued to press offensively. In the 68th minute, Amos Shapiro-Thompson brought a ball down from the air with his chest and volleyed it from 25 yards out, where it hit the crossbar and bounced off the KC keeper to find the net. The goal was ruled an own goal by KC, bringing the game to a 5-1 score line.
The result would end 5-1 in favor of Sporting Kansas City, taking all three points, pitting them against LA Galaxy on day three to decide the winner of Group G. LA leads the group with six points, while KC and Georgia United both have three. The Revs currently sit in last in the group with zero points.
Day Two U-15/16 results:
Group A
Philadelphia Union 1 – Kendall SC 0
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 – Real Salt Lake AZ 2
Group B
FC Golden State 4 – Seattle Sounders FC 0
Sockers FC 1 – BW Gottschee Academy 0
Group C
FC Dallas 4 – Chicago Magic PSG 0
Capital Area RailHawks – CASL 1 – D.C. United 2
Group D
Montreal Impact FC 0 – Sacramento Republic FC 2
Crew SC Academy Wolves 0 – Real So Cal 3
Group E
New York Red Bulls 1 – Strikers FC 3
Chicago Fire 3 – IMG Academy 1
Group F
San Jose Earthquakes 1 – Orlando City SC 0
Real Colorado 2 – Crew SC Academy 0
Group G
LA Galaxy 3 – Georgia United 1
New England Revolution 1 – Sporting Kansas City 5
Group H
Oakwood Soccer Club 0 – Pateadores 4
Weston FC 2 – Crossfire Premier 0
Sockers FC U-17/18 vs. Pateadores U-17/18
The second day of the Academy Playoffs at Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas ended with Sockers FC grinding out all three points against Pateadores in Group C play.
The two clubs went into the game knowing they needed three points to stay alive in the hunt to win the group.
At the beginning of the game, the defenses from both clubs were shaky, and both sides created golden chances early on but couldn’t find the net.
Neither team was able to take control of the game at any point, and both Sockers and Pateadores created opportunities offensively to no avail.
The game turned very defensive in the second half. Not wanting to be left exposed in the back or at risk of a counter, neither club put too many numbers forward. Considering the teams’ position going into the game, both sides needed a win to keep the hope to advance alive.
In the 54th minute, Sockers’ Aidan Megally broke the deadlock, blasting a shot past the Pateadores goalkeeper, taking advantage of one of the rare opportunities going forward. After putting his side up 1-0, Megally ran to the corner to celebrate with his teammates and the younger Sockers FC team who were on hand to watch and support their club.
Later into the game, Sockers scored again with hopes of extending their lead, but the referee ruled it offside to the relief of Pateadores.
Both sides maintained stout defending late into the game, and Pateadores became desperate and began throwing everyone forward to salvage a point. Sockers stayed compact and did not falter, allowing them to maintain their 1-0 lead until the referee blew the final whistle. Sockers walked off the field with all three points, putting them one point behind both Sacramento Republic FC and New York Red Bulls in Group C.
Day Two U-17/18 results:
Group A
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4 – Vardar 1
LA Galaxy 6 – Chargers Soccer Club 1
Group B
Houston Dynamo 3 – North Carolina Fusion 1
Real Salt Lake AZ 1 – Seattle Sounders FC 0
Group C
New York Red Bulls 1 – Sacramento Republic FC 1
Sockers FC 1 – Pateadores 0
Group D
Players Development Academy 2 – Arsenal FC 2
Chicago Magic PSG 1 – Montreal Impact FC 5
Group E
FC Dallas 3 – D.C. United 2
Orlando City SC 0 – Shattuck-Saint Mary’s 1
Group F
Texas Rush 2 – Georgia United 2
Crew SC Academy Wolves 0 – Nomads SC 0
Group G
Philadelphia Union 2 – Chicago Fire 0
Kendall SC 2 – Beachside SC 1
Group H
Capital Area RailHawks – CASL 0 – San Jose Earthquakes 0
BW Gottschee Academy 3 – Sporting Kansas City 0
