The Sporting Kansas City U-14s won the United States Youth Soccer Regional II Tournament on Wednesday morning with a 6-3 win over Alliance SC in the championship match in Dayton, Ohio.
Abdu Kikhia scored four goals in the final match to send the Sporting KC U-14s to the USYS National Tournament, which will be held next month in Maryland. Mike Keon and Max Rugova each added a goal in the win over Alliance SC.
The U-14s rolled through the tournament winning all three group stage matches by a combined 7-0 scoreline. The squad opened the tournament with a 4-0 win over Lexington FC. Max Rugova scored twice and Dontel Gilyard and Mike Keon each tallied a goal in the victory.
In the second group stage match, Mike Keon and John Klein tallied goals in a 2-0 victory over the Michigan Jaguars. The Sporting KC U-14s completed their perfect group stage with a 1-0 win over previously unbeaten Milwaukee Bavarian Soccer Club. Kikhia headed home a Colin Innes cross in the ninth minute to send the squad into the regional semifinals.
Kikhia continued his strong tournament with two goals in a 4-1 semifinal win over Ohio Premier. Roba Negeri added a goal for his first of the tournament and Max Rugova tallied a goal and an assist in the match.
Kikhia finished the tournament with seven goals in five matches. Goalkeeper Esteban Escobedo finished with a 0.80 goals against average and three shutouts.
The Sporting KC U-16s are also in action this week as they complete their season with the USSF Development Academy Showcase. The U-16s got off to a strong start as Absalom Solorio's 24th minute goal gave the squad a 1-0 win over Virginia Rush on Tuesday. The squad lost to the Chicago Fire in their second game Wednesday morning, falling 5-1 with Nic James tallying the lone goal for Sporting KC. The U-16s will conclude their season Friday morning when they play the Richmond Kickers 9 a.m. at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indiana.
For more details, follow the Sporting KC Academy on Twitter and Instagram.
