Three Sporting Kansas City Academy teams took the field Saturday in Colleyville, Texas for their final matches in the 2017-18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy until the regular season resumes next February. The tripleheader in suburban Dallas saw Sporting KC post a pair of victories against Solar SC at Pleasant Run Soccer Complex.
The U-19s (6-2-0, 18 points) pushed their winning streak to four matches in the Development Academy with a 2-1 comeback win. A scoreless first half saw goalkeeper Alec Wons makes multiple saves between the posts, while Isaac McGinnis, Colin Innes, Sebastian Cruz and 15-year-old Sporting KC homegrown signing Gianluca Busio saw their shot attempts go begging.
Solar surged ahead in the 51st minute and would hold the lead for almost half an hour, only for Sporting KC to stage a late and dramatic fightback. Head coach Jon Parry’s side drew level in the 78th minute when Grayson Barber’s cross was turned in off the crossbar by Camilo Benitez. With momentum firmly on their side, the visitors would grab the lead five minutes later when Cruz fed Sean Karani for the match-winner.
The result lifts the U-19s into first place in the Frontier Division, and the team’s 26 goals scored through eight games are the most in the entire 22-team Central Conference.
The U-17s (5-3-0, 15 points) made quicker work of their opponents on Saturday, delivering a wire-to-wire performance in a 5-0 victory. Jonathan Munoz opened the scoring early, heading home a Jahon Rad free kick to give Solar SC a quick deficit. Gabe Findley won Sporting KC a penalty kick just before halftime that Rad promptly converted to double the advantage.
Findley would find the scoresheet himself shortly after the restart, outmuscling three defenders before burying his shot into the side netting. Cameron Duke added a fourth goal in the 64th minute and Danny Goddard made it 5-0 in the late stages to cap a commanding win and keep the U-17s near the top of the Frontier Division table.
Jeremiah Musa found the back of the net for the Sporting KC U-15s (1-7-0, 3 points) in the first match of the day as Solar SC prevailed 4-1.
