Last Saturday, it was an all-MLS meeting between the Montreal Impact and Philadelphia Union U18 and U16 Academy teams in Development Academy regular-season action.
The Bleu-blanc-noir had the best of both games, winning 5-2 in the U18 category and 4-3 at the U16 level.
Impact U18 v Union U18
The Union scored first right at the beginning of the game, on a penalty. Santiago Gonzalez quickly set the record straight when he scored on a rebound in the box to make it 1-1. Gabriel Balbinotti scored twice shortly after, his first coming from a through ball before lobbing the goalkeeper. He scored the second just before halftime.
The Impact added two goals in the second half. Mathieu Choinière scored from the spot and Don-Junior Bobe just before the end of the game, after Philadelphia added a second.
“It was a really good game against an MLS club,” said forward Gabriel Balbinotti. “It was competitive, but we managed to take advantage of their weaknesses. I’m happy to have scored two goals, but the three points are much more important.”
Impact U16 v Union U16
The Impact U16 took a two-goal lead in the first half, after goals from Tristan Resendes and Moulay Abdallah Kanzi Belghiti.
Yannick Laurent and Woobens Pacius added two goals in the second half.
Philadelphia put a lot of pressure in the end of the game and scored three straight goals, but the Impact kept its lead and won 4-3.
“We played well and scored four goals,” said midfielder Daniel Pacella. “We should have kept the ball more and they scored three goals. But we got the win and we are looking forward to the next game.”
Next games
Both Impact teams will play their last game of the season this Saturday, starting at 11am, at Centre Nutrilait, against Continental FC DELCO.
The U18 team is in second place of its group with 13 wins, four losses and six draws, while the Impact U16 is in fourth place of its group with 12 wins, six losses and seven draws.
