The Sporting Kansas City Academy resumed play in the 2014-15 U.S. Soccer Development Academy over the weekend with six games against the Houston Dynamo at the Houston Sports Park. The Sporting KC U14's emerged with two victories over their MLS rivals, while the U16's posted a pair of 1-1 draws and the U18's fell twice to the top-ranked team in the country.
UNDER-14
Led by Jon Parry, the Sporting Kansas City U14's improved to 7-3-0 in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and continued their recent run of form after winning the Disney Showcase at the end of 2014. The U14's kicked off the weekend series with a 5-1 victory over Houston (4-8-0). Abdu Kikhia scored twice to open the scoring while Max Rugova also netted a pair to go along with a goal from Dontell Gilyard. Sunday's rematch again saw the Sporting KC U14's put five past the Dynamo in a 5-3 triumph. Kikhia made it back-to-back days with two-goal performances -- giving him a team-best 16 in the USSDA to date -- while Mason Visconti also struck twice and Colin Innes added another in the win.
UNDER-16
The Sporting Kansas City U16's (0-6-6) return to KC after earning 1-1 draws in both meetings with the Dynamo (3-5-4). On Saturday, Absalom Solorio scored his second goal of the season before Houston's Erwin Regules equalized a dozen minutes later. On Sunday, Felipe Hernandez put Sporting KC on the scoreboard with a goal cancelled out by Houston's Daniel Shahim.
UNDER-18
Up against the U.S. Soccer Development Academy's strongest side in the U18 age division, the Sporting Kansas City U18's (4-7-1) rebounded from a 7-0 defeat on Saturday with an upset bid on Sunday. Bryce Gibson gave Sporting KC a 1-0 lead in the first half before Houston (10-1-1) rallied with two goals in the second half for the 2-1 victory.
The Sporting KC U16's and U18's -- coached by Istvan Urbanyi -- will return to Texas next weekend for two more matches on the Development Academy schedule. On Saturday, both sides will face Andromeda FC at Pennington Field LD Bell High School (Bedford, Texas) before taking on the Dallas Texans at Ross Stewart Soccer Complex (Farmers Branch, Texas) on Sunday.
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