Sporting Kansas City Academy players participated in the Development Academy Winter Showcase this past weekend wrapping up their final matches this morning.
The showcase was scheduled around a trio of international friendlies played by the U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team against Brazil, Turkey and Portugal.
Eighty-one clubs participate in the tournament and are each guaranteed three matches at the Premier Sport Complex in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
The first game of the showcase for the Sporting Kansas City Academy teams took place on November 30. The U18’s drew 1-1 to the PA Classics. Both teams saw 11 shots while only capitalizing on one a piece. Sporting Kansas City’s lone goal was scored by Isai Gutierrez in the 79th minute. The lead didn’t last long as PA Classics stirker Andrew Skundrich equalized four minutes later.
The U18’s next match was on Saturday, December 1 at 10:00 a.m. CT. Sporting Kansas City lost to Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4-1. Cole Stevenson scored Sporting Kansas City Academy’s only goal of the match in the 63rd minute.
The U16’s opened their tournament play a few hours later, falling 4-0 to the PA Classics. The Classics notched their first goal of the match in the 29th minute and then tallied their next three goals in-between the 63rd and 68th minute markers, recording three goals in a six-minute span.
The U16’s played their second contest on December 2 and were defeated 6-3 by Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
The tournament concluded on December 4 with both the U16’s and the U18’s facing Real Salt Lake Academy. The U18’s earned the 1-1 draw in their final match as Isai Gutierrez scored his second goal of the tournament while the U16’s fell 3-1.
The U18’s finished the showcase with a record of 0-1-2 and the U16’s concluded with a record of 0-3-0.
