Day two of U-15 football tourney separates leaders
An LA Galaxy player (white jersey) and an Orlando City defender battle for control
(CNS): Manchester City FC and the Cuba National U-15 Team each posted their second victory, while Orlando City and LA Galaxy remained unbeaten, playing to a draw in their match, through two days of the Cayman Airways Invitational Youth Football Cup. In addition, Academy Sports Club Select, the only local team in the tournament, earned a hard-fought draw with Club Deportivo Victoria of Honduras in their match on Wednesday, 11 May.
Here is a rundown of the second day’s matches:
Cavalier Soccer Club 2, Swindon Town FC 1
Cavalier Soccer Club rebounded from an opening loss against LA Galaxy with a win against Swindon Town FC. However, it required a come-from-behind effort after forward Harvey Flippance put Swindon Town ahead when he found the back of the net in the 21st minute for his team’s only goal in its first two outings. That would be the only goal in the first half.
Michael Allen equalised for the Jamaican side, tapping the ball into an open net after Thomas Haddrell was caught out of position, having defended another shot. Midfielder Jamari Robinson put Cavalier ahead for good when he scored in the 77th minute. This was Swindon Town’s second loss after being blanked by Orlando City (4-0) the previous day.
DC United 1, Cuba National U-15 2
With both teams failing to make the most of their early chances, in part due to stellar work from Lorenzo Gordon (DC Utd) and Carlos Laferte (Cuba) between the pipes, the game remained scoreless for the first 35 minutes. That changed when a shot from the boot of DC Utd’s Everson Amaya-Mejia from about 30 yards out sailed past Laferte to put the club from the US capital ahead.
Cuba levelled the score on a penalty kick from Ribaldo Moreno. Then moments after coming into the game as a substitute, Maykol Rosabal scored the game-winning goal. It was Cuba’s second consecutive victory, having beaten another Major League Soccer academy, Houston Dynamo, by an identical score on opening day.
Orlando City 2, LA Galaxy 2
An even first half saw a number of opportunities for both sides but the scorers were not troubled before the break. LA Galaxy took the 1-0 lead early in the second half thanks to a penalty kick conversion from Efrain Alvarez, his third goal of the tournament. Cade Hagan doubled the LA lead before midfielder Wasswa Robbins gave Orlando City some hope as he cut the lead to one. Roberto Ydrach scored in his second straight game to level the score. It would end 2-2, as both teams remained unbeaten through two matches.
Academy SC Select 1, Club Deportivo Victoria 1
The Ed Bush Stadium came fully to life when Academy SC Select, the lone team representing the Cayman Islands, took to the pitch for the first time to face CD Victoria from Honduras, which also had very vocal supporters in the stands. Both teams missed early chances as they settled into a rhythm. Jose Angel Martinez drove down the right flank and hammered a shot past Amal Bell in the Academy SC Select goal to put the Honduran side ahead.
After a few missed opportunities by both sides and even possession for the remainder of the first half, the game would go to the break with CD Victoria holding a 1-0 lead. Jahmai Griffiths headed one home from inside the box to pull Academy SC Select level. After much tactical play, the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Houston Dynamo 0, Manchester City FC 9
Manchester City’s youngsters continued their dominance with a goal-scoring clinic against Houston. Taylor Richards led the way with a hat trick and in the process becoming the tournament’s top goal scorer through the first two days with five goals. Bobby Duncan scored his third and fourth goals of the competition, Thomas Doyle scored in his second straight match, while Henri Ogunby, Rowan McDonald and Kayendrah Simmonds also ensured their names known by the scorers.
It was the second win for the English club after beating DC United 5-1 on opening day. Manchester City has scored 14 goals in its first two matches, while surrendering one goal. The result saw Houston Dynamo on the losing end for the second consecutive day after being edged 2-1 by the Cuba National U-15 Team in its opening match.
Scheduled for day three are Houston Dynamo vs DC United at 3:30pm; Seattle Sounders FC vs CD Victoria, 5pm;. Academy SC Select v IMG Academy, 6:30pm; and Cavalier Soccer Club vs Orlando City, 8pm. All matches are being played at the Ed Bush Sports Complex in West Bay.
For more information, go to the Cayman Youth Football Cup website
