In only their second season in the US Soccer Development Academy (USSDA), the Montreal Impact U18 and U16 teams officially qualified for the playoffs with identical 3-1 wins over FC Bolts Celtic this past weekend in Newton, Massachusetts.
Both teams are currently holding down second place in the Northeast division with 14-6-2 record, good for 44 points and only one game to play this season.
The older side got the festivities started in the first game with a brace from Guillaume Trudel and the third marker coming off the boots of Alexandar Kulic.
“We played a good match,” said midfielder Mastanabal Kacher. “We scored very early and that gave us more confidence. The minutes that followed their goal were very important and we managed them properly. It was a game in which we respected our principles from the start to the finish.”
The second match saw the U16s imitate the U18 side, with goals by Claudio Di Zazzo, Gabriel Balbinotti and David Choinière.
“In the first half, we had majority of the possession, but we still had some trouble finding solutions in the final third,” said midfielder Moulay Hamza Kanzi Belghiti. “In the second half, we made adjustments to our tactics and we were able to take advantage of our chances, which helped us take control of the game.”
Last game
Both teams will face BW Gottschee Academy this Sunday at the Stade Saputo synthetic Field. The U18 will play at 11am, while the U16s will take the pitch at 1:30pm. The U16s have already secured second place in the division, while a win would do the same for the Impact U18.
