Several Sporting Kansas City Academy players competed beyond their years on Saturday as the U-18s and U-16s defeated Solar Chelsea SC to kick off the spring half of the 2016-17 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season.
Returning to the field for their first Development Academy matches since November, the U-18s earned a 4-2 victory before the U-16s won 3-1 to round out the doubleheader at the University of Tulsa.
Six Sporting KC Academy players trained with the Swope Park Rangers last week—Ezra Armstrong, Chase Bromstedt, Leroy Enzugusi, Maxi Rugova, Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal and Patrick Wilkinson. As a result, five players from the Sporting KCs U-16s were called up to the U-18s on Saturday. That also paved the way for five U-14 players to join the U-16s.
Sporting KC U-18s 4, Solar Chelsea SC 2
After falling behind within the first five minutes, Sporting KC drew level with their Dallas-based opposition thanks to Mason Visconti, who finished off Mario Magana’s cross from close range. Magana tallied his second assist shortly thereafter, teeing up Whitney Gonsalves for his first league goal of the season.
Solar Chelsea produced an equalizer early in the second half, bundling home the rebound after goalkeeper Steve Tekesky did well to tip the ball onto the post. A tense final half-hour began with a Solar Chelsea goal called back for offside.
Visconti and Magana reversed roles in the late stages, with the former setting up the latter for the game-winning strike. Magana sealed the victory and stamped his superb two-goal, two-assist day with a near-post finish on the stroke of full time, the assist going to Sporting KC Academy debutant Dawson Lee.
Saturday’s result keeps the U-18s (9-5-0, 27 points) in second place in the Central Conference’s Frontier Division. Coach Jon Parry’s men lead the division with 37 goals through 14 games.
Sporting KC U-16s 3, Solar Chelsea SC 1
The U-16s took just 11 minutes to the lead in the second game of the doubleheader. Mitch Eise and Gada Ambo were involved in a delightful buildup that led to Sean Karani’s third league goal of the 2016-17 campaign. Karani turned provider three minutes later, crossing low for Abdu Kikhia to double the advantage.
Kikhia bagged his brace and a team-leading sixth goal of the season in the 62nd minute, running onto a quick throw-in to make the score 3-0. Goalkeeper Grant Calvert made a splendid save a few minutes later, though Solar Chelsea SC would salvage a consolation goal before full time.
Led by head coach Josh Gardner, the U-16s (10-3-1, 31 points) sit second in the Frontier Division standings. Like the U-18s, they lead the division with 41 goals over 14 games.
Next Up
Sporting KC will assemble a U-17 squad next weekend at Houston Sports Park as regional qualifying continues in the 2016-17 Generation adidas Cup. Sporting KC is currently third in the Central qualifying region, having hosted the first three group stages matches at Swope Soccer Village last October.
The top teams from the Central, East and West qualifying regions will advance to face international competition in the 2017 Generation adidas Cup Finals from April 7-15 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
