The Sporting Kansas City U-16s kept pace at the top of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Frontier Division standings with a resounding 8-1 win over the Colorado Rush on Saturday at Swope Soccer Village.
The victory moves Sporting KC (16-4-1, 49 points) level on points with first-place FC Dallas (16-2-1, 49 points), who own the head-to-head tiebreaker by virtue of greater points per game. The U-16s are well positioned to qualify for the Development Academy playoffs from June 20-26, with the top three teams in each division guaranteed a berth to the postseason tournament in Westfield, Indiana.
Saturday’s doubleheader at Swope Soccer Village began with the Sporting KC U-18s battling the Colorado Rush to an entertaining 2-2 draw. The U-18s (13-7-1, 40 points) are currently third in the Frontier Division table, a point behind Lonestar SC and four behind leaders FC Dallas with five league matches still to play.
Sporting KC U-16s 8, Colorado Rush U-16s 1
One week removed from competing at the prestigious Generation adidas Cup in Frisco, Texas, the U-16s exploded for a season-high eight goals in their return to Development Academy action. Mason Visconti opened the scoring in the 21st minute, firing home a pass from Sebastian Cruz, before Sporting KC tallied three times in a remarkable three-minute span before halftime. Abdu Kikhia’s header was followed quickly by an own goal and Visconti’s second of the afternoon.
Jake Feiner grabbed one back for Colorado in the 50th minute, but only a minute later Sporting KC restored its four-goal cushion on a strike from Dontell Gilyard. Sean Karani did remarkably well to set up Collin Innes in the 55th minute, got in on the scoring act himself two minutes later, and finally notched his second with five minutes remaining, running onto a pass from Visconti and beating the keeper to his left.
Sporting KC U-18s 2, Colorado Rush U-18s 2
The day began with a back-and-forth affair that saw Sporting KC draw first blood in the ninth minute. Grayson Barber beat multiple defenders along the wing and served an excellent cross to Camilo Benitez, who was on hand to convert his fourth league goal of the campaign. Barber nearly doubled his side’s lead two minutes later but was denied by goalkeeper Connor Gavigan. The U-18s remained in control for most of the half, but conceded a penalty kick in the 43rd minute that was subsequently converted by Ares Marlonsson to restore parity.
Bailey Rouse vaulted Colorado ahead six minutes after the restart on a well-worked corner kick, but the visitors’ lead would last only until the 60th minute. Barber tallied his second assist of the day as Leroy Enzugusi bagged his team-leading 12th goal of the Development Academy season. The final half hour was dominated by Sporting KC as Michener Elmidor hit the woodwork and Barber and Max Rugova narrowly missed the target, but Colorado held on to salvage a point.
Up Next: Pivotal Showdown with FC Dallas
The Sporting KC U-18s and U-16s now turn their attention to Saturday’s crucial doubleheader with FC Dallas, whose U-18 and U-16 teams sit atop the Frontier Division standings. The two-game set will be played on the campus of the University of Tulsa, with games kicking off at noon and 2:30 p.m. CT, respectively.
In July 2016, FC Dallas became the first club to win U.S. Soccer Development Academy titles at the U-18 and U-16 levels in the same season. Last weekend, the FC Dallas U-18s accomplished another all-time first among MLS academy sides by winning the Dallas Cup Super Group title, defeating Monterrey 2-1 in the final.
Follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for live updates next Saturday and throughout the season.
