The U16 and U18 Impact teams were in Florida last week. They both played three games in four days in the annual U.S. Soccer Development Academy showcase. Both teams got back to Montreal with a positive record of two wins and one loss.
The U18 started the showcase with an important 2-1 win against LA Galaxy. Jimmy-Shammar Sanon scored a brace. The day after, they lost 2-1 to the Seattle Sounders FC; Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla scored the only goal. The team didn’t give up and ended the tournament on a positive note as they beat the Chargers Soccer Club 2-0. Badreddine Boulajoul and Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla scored in the win.
“It was a really good showcase,” said interim Impact U18 head coach Simon Gatti. “In the first game against LA, we played well and were very patient. The second game was not bad too, but we had troubles finding the back of the net. The performance on the field was still good. Conditions for the last game were tough, it was really hot. But the guys managed the game well. The second goal came off a beautiful collective play.”
The U16s were also facing tough opponents in Florida.
The first game against LA Galaxy ended in a 6-2 loss after the Bleu-blanc-noir took an early lead in the game. Despite this result, head coach Wilfried Nancy’s team stayed focus and won the two following games, 4-3 against Kendall SC and 2-0 against D.C. United. On the eight goals scored by the team, six different scorers got on the score sheet.
Both Impact USSDA teams end the 2015 year on a positive note and will start the second half of the season on March 13. They are also in a good playoff position. Of 74 teams, the U18s are 7th in the general standings and the U16 are in 8th position.
