The U16 and U18 Impact teams showed a lot of character over the weekend, which was packed with four games.
Saturday, the U18s started with a 3-0 win over NJCSA. Gabriel Balbinotti scored in the first half, before seeing teammates Mouhamed Touré and Badreddine Boulajoul add to the score in the second half.
The U16s followed right after with a 0-0 draw in a tight game against the NJCSA U16 team.
The following day, both teams showed a lot of character when coming back to win points.
The U18 were trailing twice in the game against Players Development Academy. When losing 2-0, Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla and Jimmy-Shammar Sanon scored to level the score, but PDA took the lead a second time. Jackson Pickard scored in the final minutes of the game to help the Bleu-blanc-noir earn a point out of this game.
In the U16 game, PDA was also leading but head coach Wilfried Nancy’s team scored twice to take all three points. Protais Mutambala and Shawn Rojas scored the goals.
“I’m always happy to see the players understanding that you have to play a game until the end,” said head coach Wilfried Nancy. “We conceded a goal after five minutes [in the 2-1 win] and I felt that the guys didn’t panic. They built the play in a really interesting way. The win was well deserved.”
Both teams will have their first USSDA trip of the season and play against BW Gottschee Academy on Sunday, September 27 (10am – U18, 12:30pm – U16).
Head coach Wilfried Nancy isn’t too concerned with his young group, with some players just graduating from the U14s and p[laying in their first USSDA season.
“It will be a first, but at the same time, they were prepared for this,” said Wilfried Nancy. “Last year, the U14s travelled to the U.S. and Europe, so everything is linked with every category.”
Pre-Academy
For the Pre-Academy, the club’s young players were introduced to the new Montreal Impact training centre as they took their official group photos and played friendly games.
