With the 2020 MLS season on temporary hold, SportingKC.com is taking daily strolls down memory lane with an "On This Day" web series that celebrates memorable moments in team history. As one of Major League Soccer's proud charter members, Sporting has a decorated past full of thrilling victories, amazing goals, momentous off-the-field developments and more. "On This Day" pays tribute to these specific instances, turning back the clocks while treating fans to nostalgia and club history lessons. To catch up on the series as it unfolds, visit SportingKC.com/OnThisDay.
Three years ago today, a rising star in the Sporting Kansas City Academy helped the United States U-17 Men's National Team to a historic victory over a fierce rival.
On April 26, 2017, Jaylin Lindsey and the U.S. ousted Mexico in a 4-3 thriller in the Concacaf U-17 Championship group stage, giving the Americans their first-ever World Cup qualifying win over El Tri at the U-17 level.
Lindsey, who would be announced as Sporting Kansas City's newest Homegrown Player five months later, started and played 90 minutes at right back in the USA's best performance of the tournament. Forward Josh Sargent bagged a brace while Blaine Ferri and Ayo Akinola also found the back of the net.
The U.S. and Mexico would meet again in the tournament final on May 7, battling to a 1-1 stalemate before El Tri prevailed in penalty kicks. The second-place finish was still enough to send Lindsey and the United States to the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, with the Sporting KC Academy product landing Concacaf U-17 Championship Best XI honors in the process.
In October 2017, Lindsey started all three group stage matches as the USA beat India and Ghana before falling to Colombia. An injury ruled the defender out of the knockout rounds, where the Americans eased past Paraguay in the Round of 16 and lost to eventual champion England in the quarterfinals.
