The Impact U16 team, which plays in the USSDA had a good showing at the Generation adidas Cup held last week in Texas, earning two wins, two losses and a draw despite missing a number of key players on national team duty.
The Impact won the first game 4-3 on PKs following a 2-2 draw against the Chicago Fire Academy on April 14, before topping the Houston Dynamo 1-0 the next day. A 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City’s Academy side on April 17 was followed by a 1-1 (5-4) loss on PKs to the Portland Timbers, before closing out the tournament with a 1-0 defeat to the Columbus Crew.
“We went to Dallas with two objectives. The first was to prepare for next season by bringing 18 players, 14 of which were born in 1998 with only four from 1997, and the second was to instill our principles against diverse competition from other MLS Academies,” said Impact U16 head coach Wilfried Nancy. “Both objectives were accomplished, especially in the first three games. After that, it was difficult physically with two injured players. Globally, I am proud that the quality of the Montreal Impact Academy teams is getting recognized.”
USSDA Playoff Push
Both the Impact U18 and U16 will return to USSDA action this weekend to take on Albertson SC this Saturday in their season’s final stretch, and build up to the playoffs. Both sides are currently sitting in fourth place in the Northeast Division standings with identical 9-5-2 records with the Impact Academy teams holding down a playoff spot, the first of two wild card entries.
“We won’t change our approach during the week, even though we are aware of the quality of our opponents who sit in second spot in both the U18 and U16 leagues,” said U18 head coach Jason DiTullio. “The issue is to be able to express themselves and to highlight our identity regardless of the opponent. I also want to see how my players respond to adversity. This will be a good test for us going forward.”
Mouhamed Touré back from France
Impact U16 defender Mouhamed Touré and the Canadians Men’s U-16 Team wrapped up their sophomore appearance in the Montaigu Tournament on France’s West Coast with one win and three losses, but played a number of closely contested games.
The youngsters started with a memorable 1-0 win over France. They followed that up with a 2-0 loss to the defending champions from Turkey before wrapping up the group stage with a 2-1 loss against Ivory Coast.
Playing in their final game of the tournament this past weekend, there was nothing between the two teams as they played an 80-minute game until the 10th round of the penalty kicks. Saudi Arabia ultimately won the PKs 9-8.
Canada U18
Canada’s Men’s U-18 Team wrapped up camp in California after a pair of close-fought games against the two elite teams in CONCACAF, with Impact U16 players Thomas Meilleur-Giguère (D), David Choinière (M) and Jimmy-Shammar Sanon (F) playing prominent roles.
After training for four days in Ventura, California, the Canadians headed to Redondo Beach for a pair of friendlies against USA and Mexico under new Head Coach Rob Gale, falling 2-1 to the U.S. on April 8 before losing 3-1 to Mexico on April 10.
