Last games of Development Academy Cup qualifying
It’s a busy weekend for the Montreal Impact’s Academy. On Saturday, all three Impact teams playing in the US Soccer Development Academy will be in action against the New England Revolution, with the U15 side kicking things off at 10am, the U17s at 12:30pm, while the U19 side will play the final game at 3pm.
Finally, on Sunday, the Impact U19 will be back in action against Bethesda SC. All games will take place at Centre Nutrilait and admission is free for all.
Impact U15 and U17 coming off big wins
Nicolas Gagnon’s young men played the perfect home game last weekend, defeating Empire United 3-0. Christopher Jean Leger opened the scoring for the hosts early in this one, putting one past the ‘keeper in the 13th minute. Then, Matteo Schiavoni doubled his team’s lead a few minutes into the second half, and Lyes Aghilles Yahmi officially put it out of reach in the 78th minute.
They’ll face a steeper test this weekend against the Revolution, a team that’ll be looking to get back to its winning ways after suffering a 2-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls’ U15 team last weekend.
Jason Di Tullio’s team, on its end, has fared well in DA Cup qualifying thus far, winning five of its seven games, adding a loss and a draw as well, while the Revolution U17 has just one win in seven games thus far.
The side suffered more adversity in GA Cup qualifying in Toronto two weekends ago, despite salvaging a point in a penalty shootout loss against the Columbus Crew SC. The U17s did, however, manage an impressive win against Empire United last weekend, taking it 4-1 at Centre Nutrilait despite missing their leading scorer, Mouhamadou Kane, off with Canada at the U17 World Cup.
Busy weekend for U19 side
U19 head coach and Academy director Philippe Eullaffroy will have a few things on his plate this weekend. Not only will his U19 side play twice in two days, they’ll have to do so without five players: Benjamin Collins, Keesean Ferdinand, Tomas Giraldo, Sean Rea, and Matthew Catavolo are still in Brazil, representing Canada at the U17 FIFA World Cup.
That means Eullaffroy will have to rotate his squad, giving many an opportunity to shine. The U19s haven’t been in action since October 19, when they played to a 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls at Centre Nutrilait. The U19 side is currently ranked sixth in its division, with the first six teams advancing to the Winter Cup.
