Both U16 and U18 Impact teams played two games in two days in the USSDA last weekend. The first game was against Beachside SC and the second against Oakwood SC, two teams directly involved in the playoff run.
In the first game, Beachside quickly took a 2-0 lead against the Impact U18 team. Jimmy-Shammar Sanon scored to cut the lead, but the second half followed the same pattern as the first one, as Beachside scored twice while Pierre Lamothe tallied for the Bleu-blanc-noir. The game ended 4-2 for the opposing team.
The next day, the U18 team took a 2-0 lead in the first half against Oakwood SC, with goals from Junior Camara and Lamothe. In the second half, the Impact scored a third goal, from Sanon, but Oakwood came from behind to tie 3-3 in the dying moments of the game.
“In the first game, we had trouble finding our bearings in the game, which put us in a tough place and stopped us from expressing ourselves and displaying our qualities,” said Impact U18 head coach Yoann Damet. “The second game is always tough with the fatigue from the previous day, but the players showed character and put efforts until the end of an intense game. The weekend’s results are disappointing and remind us that training is a long road with obstacles that help you learn and draw lessons to progress. The experience we got from this weekend will help us for the rest of the season and in the future.”
As for the U16 Impact team, the weekend started on a more positive note. The team won its first meeting against Beachside by a score of 1-0, with a Raphaël Garcia goal. The next day, Oakwood took a two-goal lead before halftime. Jean-Arnaud Tano reduced their lead with a goal in the 67th minute, but it wasn’t enough.
“On the weekend, we showed quality and character when playing with 10 men for almost an entire half,” said Impact U16 head coach Nicolas Gagnon. “We also feel that we are more mature in certain phases, and we still need more in other to be able to wrap games up faster with the chances we create. We also saw that, when we ease off, it becomes more difficult for us, and that costs us in terms of quality. It was a roller-coaster weekend when there was more positive than anything else. I’m proud of the reactions in both games.”
Both teams will be playing away again next weekend, facing the Philadelphia Union next Sunday, May 15. In addition to the USSDA Impact teams, the USL and MLS club’s teams face Philadelphia teams that weekend as well.
With five games to play this season, the U18 are now 17th on 74 teams as the U16 are in 13th position. The first 32 teams make it to the USSDA playoffs.
The U14 team in France
After taking part in the U15 Canadian Soccer Association Showcase last week, the Impact U14 team, coached by Mathieu Rufié, will fly to France this week. The team will take part in the Tournoi international U15 Neuville sur Saône from May 14 to 16. Olympique de Marseille is in the same group as the Impact, while other prestigious clubs like Olympique Lyonnais, Newcastle United FC and Sporting Clube de Portugal are also part of the competition.
