Sporting Kansas City's U16 and U18 Juniors teams travelled down to Lakewood Ranch, Florida last week to participate in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase. The Showcase, which featured all 78 member clubs of the Development Academy, spanned five days of intense competition, and was highlighted by two select matches for the top players in the country born in 1995 and 1996.
Both Juniors sides faced the same opposition: D.C. United, Baltimore Bays Chelsea and Oakwood SC of Connecticut.
After a long day of travel last Friday from Kansas City, acting U16 coach Boris Pardo-standing in for Jon Parry, who's currently accompanying Peter Vermes on the Generation adidas trip to the Netherlands-sat down to preview the Showcase from Sporting Kansas City's point of view, and address some goals that both sides were targeting heading into Saturday's opener against D.C. United.
Saturday, December 3rd
The first matchday for both teams started at 9:00 a.m. sharp for the 18s, as they kicked off against a D.C. side led by U.S. Under-18 National Team midfielder Jalen Robinson. Despite United boasting plenty of attacking riches, it was Sporting who drew first blood as left back Daniel Hare had a cross turned in by the D.C. goalkeeeper to give Sporting the lead heading into halftime. That narrow lead would stand up due to a few heroic moments from centerback Eric De Julio and goalkeeper Evan Wright as United pushed for an equalizer. It would never come, however, as the 18s closed out a narrow 1-0 win to start the weekend.
The 16s enjoyed considerably less success than their older peers, kicking off against the D.C. United 16s immediately after the 18s concluded. Robert Palmer put D.C. in front in just the sixth minute of play before a red card was shown to Sporting KC substitute Dante Guerrero early in the second half. Three more United goals followed, as Sporting fell by a 4-0 scoreline.
Missing from the 16s lineup was Lee's Summit midfielder Joey Piatczyc, who was selected for the 1996 Select match and thus could not participate in two matches in the same day. Piatczyc's match kicked off at 5:00 p.m. and every member of the Sporting KC party made their way back to see Piatczyc start and play the entire match as his Red team were 2-1 winners on the night.
Click here to read a full report of Day One at the Showcase
Sunday, December 4th
The 18s-led by coach Paul Rideout-continued their winning ways on Sunday, topping Baltimore Bays Chelsea by a 2-1 scoreline in an early morning match. Eduardo Moreno gave Sporting the advantage at halftime before completing a double in the second half.
A slow start once again haunted the 16s in the next match, as sloppy marking from a corner and a well-worked goal from the Bays had the Baltimore side up 2-0 inside of 20 minutes. Where Sporting slipped into a funk after going down on Saturday, however, on Sunday they rose to the challenge. Cole Stevenson provided an immediate response on 22 minutes, rifling a right-footed effort into the top corner before Steven Enna and Piatczyc notched second half goals to give the 16s their first victory of the Showcase in dramatic fashion.
Click here to read a full report of Day Two at the Showcase
Monday, December 5th
It wasn't all work and no play in Florida for the Juniors. Monday was a day off for both sides, so the group took the chance to visit the beach at Siesta Key for some regeneration work in the form of swimming and soccer volleyball followed by a light stretch.
Tuesday, December 6th
The final matchday saw simultaneous kickoffs for both Pardo and Rideout's squads on adjacent fields against Oakwood SC.
The 16s got on the board first in their match, as Piatczyc grabbed his second goal of the weekend following good work out wide from Guerrero. After conceding an equalizer before halftime, Seo-In Kim put Pardo's side back on front in the second half, but a second goal seven minutes from fulltime for Oakwood saw the sides split the points.
After going into halftime tied at 0-0, the 18s broke through early in the second half as Clay Stewart headed home a cross from forward Garrett Pulliam. Though Oakwood would find a leveler in the 74th minute, Moreno tucked away the winner for Sporting as the match entered stoppage time to give the U18s three wins from three matches played on the weekend
Click here to read a full report of the Day Three at the Showcase
Both sides will continue to train extensively before resuming U.S. Soccer Development Academy action on Saturday, March 3 against FC Dallas at the Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park. To keep up with all the latest happenings with the Sporting Kansas City Juniors, be sure to follow @SKCJuniors on Twitter and visit The Junior Way, the official blog of the Juniors.
