The Sporting Kansas City U-14s delivered an excellent showing at the inaugural LA Galaxy Cup last week, advancing all the way to the International Division championship match at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.
Led by head coach Declan Jogi, the Sporting KC U-14s rattled off three consecutive group stage victories before falling to Portuguese side FC Porto on Sunday in the tournament final.
Sporting KC’s run to the title game began Wednesday with a 2-1 win over Irvine-based Pateadores FC, setting the tone for a successful run in a competition that also included English powerhouse Manchester United. The team posted another 2-1 victory against San Diego Surf the following afternoon and clinched a spot in the championship on Saturday, ousting Welsh club Swansea City in a 5-2 thriller.
The U-14s took a 4-0 loss to FC Porto in Sunday’s final, but their second-place finish was highest among all American clubs competing in the International Division of the inaugural tournament.
Like the U-14s, the Sporting KC U-15s finished group stage play unbeaten in the U-15 International Division. Head coach Kelly Findley’s side battled to three consecutive scoreless draws against Mexican club Toluca, San Diego Surf and FC Golden State. These results put Sporting KC in an LA Galaxy Cup consolation match on Sunday, where they finished with a 2-1 defeat to Montreal-Nord Pumas.
The U-15s will resume their 2017-18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season this Saturday at Swope Soccer Village, playing in the first match of a tripleheader against Solar SC (Dallas) at 10 a.m. CT. All three matches are free and open to the public, as the U-17s and U-19s will take the field at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
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