Slideshow of Sporting KC Academy's trip to Denver, Colorado
All four Sporting Kansas City Academy teams returned to KC after a long weekend of soccer in Denver. The Academy's westward travel saw the U-18s and U-16s compete in U.S. Soccer Development Academy matches versus the Colorado Rapids. The U-14s and U-12s took part in three friendlies a piece.
The U-14s opened the weekend with a 5-2 loss to Real Colorado Soccer Club. Roba Negeri and Patrick Wilkinson each tallied a goal for the Sporting KC. The Sporting KC U-14s concluded their weekend with losses to the Colorado Rush and Colorado Rapids.
The U-12s also faced Real Colorado, earning a 3-1 victory courtesy of goals from Yushin Gossin, Isaac Johnson and Luke High. Sporting KC scored the first goal of the match only for Real to tie it up early in the second half. Johnson broke the stalemate, and High added the insurance with a calmly placed finish assisted by Liam Bailey. In their second match of the day, the Sporting KC U-12s defeated the Colorado Rush 2-1. Aidan Bates put Sporting KC on the board first. Five minutes later, Rush equalized off an indirect kick. The game remained level until late in the secodn half when Isaiah Cherry converted the game-winner.
The squad wrapped up their weekend with a third consecutive victory, beating the Colorado Rapids 4-1. Dylan Cooper scored a piar of first half goals to give Sporting KC the 2-0 lead at the halftime intermission, assists credited to Jony Munoz and Angel Rocha. The Rapids cut the lead in half early in the second half. Sporting KC's Jonny Munoz and Aidan Bates responded by adding a goal each.
The U18s tied the Colorado Rapids 3-3 in their first match of the weekend. Cole Stevenson scored to give Sporting KC the 1-0 lead in the first half. Colorado tied it up at 1-1 before Stevenson struck again to put Sporting KC back on top. Colorado then tallied back-to-back goals in second half stoppage time giving the Rapids their first lead of the day. To continue the flurry of wild events in the second half, Darby Cronin displayed the ultimate late-game heroics to equalize for Sporting KC in the final seconds of the match.
The U-18s continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Sunday. Tucker Stephenson opened the scoring for Sporting KC and Zach Wright added the next four goals. The Sporting KC U-18s have earned 10 points in their first four matches in league play.
The U-16s were shutout last weekend, falling to the Colorado Rapids 1-0 on Saturday and 2-0 on Sunday. The squad is now 1-2-1 in league play.
Just conquered Colorado!! Huge shout out to my homie @zhwright11 with the 4 goals! Big time! Just like how I Showed him! #SKC#bleedblue
Looking ahead to this weekend, the U-18s and U-16s will host Andromeda FC at the Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park on Sunday. The U-18s match will begin at 9 a.m. CT followed by the U-16s at 11:30 a.m. CT. The U-12s and U-14s will have the weekend off.
