2024 GA Cup Recap: Sporting KC U-17s and U15s give impressive showing at GA Cup 

Both the Sporting Kansas City Acadmey U-17 and U-15 squads gave impressive showings out at the 2024 Generation adidas Cup in Bradenton, FL from March 30- April 7, as the U-17s advanced to the Championship Bracket Quarterfinals and the U-15s made it to the Premier Bracket Finals. Both teams showed resilient attitudes, bouncing back from opening match defeats to advance far in the knockout rounds.

Sporting KC's U-17s, led by Angel Rivillo, began the prestigious tournament against Real Salt Lake. After a back-and-forth, scoreless first half, RSL netted the match-winner with very little time left on the clock. Sporting was unable to equalize, however, they rebounded with a late winner of their own against Inter Miami in the second group stage match. With less than two minutes to play, a quick counter-attack from the U-17's sturdy midfield sprang them into the attack where the boys fired home a winner.

On the final day of group stage play, the boys needed three points for a chance to go atop the group or earn a wild card spot in the Championship bracket. The U-17s faced Colombian side Atletico Nacional and survived their fast pace of play in the first half, entering the break scoreless. Changing the flow of the game in the second, the U-17s got out on the front foot, keeping possession in the Atletico final third for the majority of the second. The goalless deadlock was broken 10 minutes into the half on a stunning free kick from 30 yards out. A few ticks later the score was doubled by a tap-in off a brilliant centering pass. Atletico cut into the lead in stoppage time but an all-out defensive effort secured the victory and a spot in the Championship Bracket for the U-17s.

Now in single-elimination play, the U-17s found themselves pitted against FC Cincinnati who finished first in their group with eventual U-17 GA Cup Champions Philadelphia Union, Atlas F.C. and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Cincinnati snatched the lead midway through the first and added another goal early in the second half. With just 15 minutes to go, Sporting's U-17s pulled themselves up and rallied, scoring twice within five minutes to even the score. Cincinnati immediately went ahead with a third goal, however, their jubilation was short-lived as an SKC penalty in stoppage time took the contest to kicks from the spot. All five of Sporting's kicktakers converted and a massive save propelled them into the quarterfinals with a 5-4 shootout triumph.

The group faced the LA Galaxy in front of an international audience on MLS Season Pass in the quarterfinals. The Galaxy tallied once in the first half and packed it in defensively in the second. Despite several valiant efforts from Sporting KC, LA's one-goal lead held, ending Sporting's GA Cup Championship hopes.

Sporting's U-17s played two more showcase matches, taking on Argentinian powerhouses River Plate and MLS NEXT side Atlanta United in the final two days of the competition. An unshakeable group, the U-17s recovered from their defeat on day one, erased a two-goal deficit in the round of 16 and showed nothing but heart in all seven of their matches.

Sporting Kansas City's U-15s, led by Luis Pacheco, began GA Cup with a defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes in the group stages. On day two, they showed their resolve, with a gritty 2-1 win over Charlotte FC. Following a quick goal within five minutes of the opening kick, Sporting controlled the opening 20 minutes of the match. Charlotte leveled against the run of play before a rocket from outside the box threw Kansas City back on top. A hard-fought second half yielded no more goals as Sporting claimed all three points. In the final group stage match, Liga MX side Necaxa outlasted the U-15s 2-0.

Thanks to their performance against Charlotte, Sporting's U-15s qualified for the new GA Cup Premier Bracket with a Wild Card spot. They opened up the single elimination bracket against D.C. United and earned a spot in the quarterfinals with a solid 1-0 performance.

The matches got tighter as the competition progressed with Sporting going to consecutive shootouts against Weston FC and the Colorado Rapids. A scoreless affair with Weston only needed five rounds of kicks from the spot to determine Sporting KC as the victor. SKC's goalkeeper saved two kicks while four of the five takers converted theirs to advance into the semifinals against Colorado.

Matched up against their neighbors to the west, Sporting led Colorado in the first half thanks to a dazzling set-piece effort on the cusp of the left side of the 18. A 10-man Rapids side pulled even with just minutes to go in the second and forced penalties. A 14-round shootout culminated in a 12-11 win for Sporting KC and a spot in the Premier Bracket Final on Apple TV. In the Final against the Chicago Fire, a goal in the first half for the Illinois side proved enough as they bested Sporting 1-0 on the final day of the tournament. Another perseverant group, Sporting KC's U-15s came back from a tough group stage, took down some rigid competition and advanced to the first-ever Premier Bracket Final.

The Sporting Kansas City Academy is now back at Swope Soccer Village beginning preparations for the rest of the MLS NEXT Season, MLS NEXT FLEX and MLS NEXT Playoffs. Fans can follow along with everything going on in the Sporting Academy by following @SKCAcademy on X and Instagram or by checking SportingKCAcademy.com.