Impact Academy teams win two of three games against D.C. United
The Development Academy season kicked off last weekend and all three of the Impact’s teams were in action against D.C. United’s Academy teams. The U15s won their game 4-0, the U17s won 5-1, while the U19s fell 2-1.
This did not mark the beginning of the regular season in USSDA. With a format change this year, all three of the Impact’s teams will also compete in a new competition called the Development Academy Cup.
Dominant wins for U15 and U17
The U15 side, led by head coach Nicolas Gagnon, was dominant in its return to the USSDA, conceding no goals en route to a 4-0 victory. Massimo Gatto opened the scoring early for the hosts, in the 12th minute, while Adam Rodrigue added a second 12 minutes later. Both players would score again to complete their respective braces.
The U17s followed that performance with an equally dominant showing of their own, beating D.C. United 5-1 at Centre Nutrilait. The Impact was quick off the mark in this one, taking a 2-0 lead before the 20th minute thanks to goals from Mouhamadou Kane and Medgy Alexandre.
The Washingtonians would get one back in the 22nd minute to cut the deficit in half, but a third goal scored before the end of the half, this one from Abdul Binate, would be too much to handle for the visitors. Medgy Alexandre would add a second with a few minutes left, and Renaud Caron would seal the deal in the 86th minute with the Impact’s fifth goal of the game.
U19s fall 2-1 in opening game
Things went a little less smoothly for the U19s in their DA Cup opener. D.C. United needed only six minutes to open the scoring, forcing the Impact to chase an equalizer. Both teams struggled finding the back of the net afterwards, though the visitors were able to double their lead in the 66th minute.
Down 2-0, the Impact remained in the game, creating chances and cutting the deficit in half in the 90th minute, thanks to a goal from Mujtaba Mir Hasan in the 90th minute, but it was too little too late for Philippe Eullaffroy’s squad.
Upcoming games
The Impact Academy’s play in the Development Academy Cup continues on Saturday, September 14, when all three Impact teams playing in the Development Academy will travel to the Big Apple to take on the New York Red Bulls at the Red Bulls Training Facility in Harrison, New Jersey. The U15s will play at 10am, the U17s at noon, and the U19s at 2pm.
