The Montreal Impact U16 team travelled to Washington D.C. this past weekend to take part in the first leg of the eastern regional qualifier of the Generation Adidas Cup.
"The trip was a valuable experience for the players,” said head coach Simon Gatti. “The competition was very high and it gave our kids the opportunity to play and measure themselves against the highest level in there age category in North America."
The U16s fell to the Columbus Crew 1-0 before dropping a 3-0 decision to the Philadelphia Union over the weekend in tournament play. Then on Monday, in a friendly with the New York Red Bulls, the Impact lost 6-0 before returning home to continue preparing for the upcoming USSDA season.
The Generation Adidas Cup is a U17 tournament that showcases the youth development system in Major League Soccer. All MLS clubs agreed to send their U16 teams as that age group is the most likely to have the most consistent roster year-round.
The final qualifiers will be played in Montreal during thanksgiving weekend, with games against D.C. United, Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls.
The top three teams from each group will meet in the finals over Easter weekend in March. All other teams will be placed in a consolation tournament at the same time.
Impact U16 roster
Louis-Philippe PAQUIN
David CHOINIÈRE
Mouhamed TOURÉ
Claudio DI ZAZZO
William ARCHAMBAULT
Juliano COBUZZI
Pierre LAMOTHE
Steven ALBERICI
Luca RICCI
Don Junior BOBE
Kévin TRAN
Kerry ZHANG
André-Cédric ZIBI
Jimmy-Shammar SANON
Esleyder LUARCA
Gabriel WIETHAEAUPER BALBINOTTI
Christopher HANSEN-BARKUN
Charles DESROCHERS
