The Sporting Kansas City Academy flexed its depth this weekend in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
Despite missing a collective 14 players from the U-18 and U-16 squads, both teams combined to win three of four matches during a two-day road swing in Texas.
The Sporting KC U-16s earned two victories, defeating Lonestar SC 3-1 on Saturday before knocking off the Houston Dynamo 3-0 the following afternoon. Meanwhile, the Sporting KC U-18s bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Lonestar SC with a 2-1 win over the Dynamo.
The results keep both teams in position to qualify for this summer’s U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs as top-three finishers in the Frontier Division.
The U-16s (12-3-1, 37 points) are currently in second place, six points behind FC Dallas, while the third-place U-18s (11-6-0, 33 points) are just two points adrift of leaders Lonestar SC.
Of the 14 players who missed this weekend’s action, nine were competing with the Swope Park Rangers in Indiana and five had joined U.S. youth national team camps.
In related news, Sporting KC Academy product Erik Palmer-Brown captained the United States to CONCACAF U-20 Championship glory on Sunday. Palmer-Brown received the Golden Ball award as player of the tournament as the U.S. defeated Honduras on penalties to win the title.
Sporting KC U-18s 1, Lonestar SC 2
Lonestar SC jumped out to a 7th-minute lead when Luke Thompson beat Steve Tekesky from close range, but Sporting KC equalized just six minutes later when Abdu Kikhia raced onto Massimo McGuire’s through ball, rounded the keeper and slotted into an open net. Dawson Lee and Camilo Benitez created dangerous chances before halftime, but the score remained deadlocked until the 52nd minute when a turnover allowed Diego Garcia to restore Lonestar’s advantage.
Sporting KC U-16s 3, Lonestar SC 1
A dominant first half saw Sporting KC go ahead in the 14th minute when Sebastian Cruz scored a free kick on his U-16 debut. Sean Karani doubled the lead three minutes later, then Cruz converted another fantastic free kick in the 38th minute to complete his brace. U.S. U-14 Boys’ National Team forward Tyler Freeman made his U-16 debut in the second half as Lonestar salvaged a consolation goal on the hour mark.
Sporting KC U-18s 2, Houston Dynamo 1
The U-18s bounced back on Sunday to avenge Saturday’s defeat and enter the win column. Benitez scored a go-ahead goal in the 63rd minute, setting the stage for Roman Knox’s superb 80th-minute volley to clinch the victory. A day after scoring twice for the U-16s, Cruz was awarded his U-18 debut with a 90-minute outing.
Sporting KC U-16s 3, Houston Dynamo 0
The U-16s rounded out a successful weekend with a comfortable win behind a Jonathan Munoz brace and an insurance strike from Collin Innes. Goalkeeper Max Trejo earned the clean sheet.
Next Up
The U-18s and U-16s return home Saturday for a doubleheader against Texans SC Houston at Swope Soccer Village. The U-18s will kick off at 10 a.m. CT before the U-16s take the field at 12:30 p.m. CT. Both matches are free and open to the public. Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for live updates.
