One semi berth set, rest up for grabs at Youth Cup
Academy Sports Club’s Dominic Owens takes a shot on goal
(CNS): A lot remains at stake as the Cayman Airways Invitational Youth Cup heads into the final day of group play today (13 May), after all the action at the Ed Bush Sports Complex on Thursday. Seattle Sounders became the first team to seal their spot in the semifinals as they have done enough to win Group B, and Orlando City remains in contention in Group C.
Here is a rundown of the third day’s matches:
Houston Dynamo 1, DC United 1
Despite a few opportunities for DC United in the early going, the match remained scoreless at the half. That changed in the 57th minute, when Iker Bustamante found the back of the net to break the deadlock. Houston’s challenge became greater when they had to play a man down after James Crath picked up his second yellow card in the 41st minute.
His teammates did not give up and drew even when Ivan Leon scored for the first time in the tournament. DC United’s Augustus Sam was also sent to the changing room when he picked up his second yellow card moments before the final whistle. Both teams ended their campaigns picking up their first point.
Seattle Sounders FC 4, Club Deportivo Victoria 1
Sounders dominated possession through much of the first half but it was CD Victoria who made it to the score sheet first with an Oscar Nunez goal two minutes before the half. Seattle’s Connor Drought ensured his team would not trail at the break when he scored in injury time. It was largely one-way traffic in the second half as Peter Kingston, Daniel Robles and Ethan Dobbeleare joined in the scoring for Sounders. Winning 4-1, Seattle is guaranteed the best record in Group B and a spot in the semifinals on Saturday.
Academy Sports Club Select 2, IMG Academy 2
The energy was high throughout as Academy SC Select, the lone Cayman side in the tournament, took the pitch for their second match. After a few chances, it was Jondane Dawkins who struck first for Academy after a bobble by Adam Henry in the IMG goal. The local side maintained the offensive pressure but a counter-attack by Carlos Heinze brought IMG level.
Rohelio Wright sent the crowd into a frenzy with a candidate for goal of the tournament – a free kick from about 45 yards out that sailed into the goal beyond Henry’s reach to give Academy SC Select the 2-1 advantage heading into the half. IMG’s Indiana Vassilev took the initiative in the second half when he gathered the ball on the edge of the box and drilled it past Amal Bell to equalise. The excitement continued with a few near misses, some hitting the “woodwork” but no more goals would follow, resulting in a 2-2 draw.
Cavalier SC 0, Orlando City 0
With each side trying to be more tactful than the other, there was not any trouble for the scorers on either side of the break. Jamari Morrison and Michael Allen both had good chances to put Cavalier SC ahead but missed the mark. With the draw, Orlando City took sole possession of the top of the Group C standings after their three matches but will have to wait on the outcome of LA Galaxy’s match today with Swindon Town to see if they will play any further part in the tournament.
Day four fixtures, all being played at Ed Bush Stadium:
IMG Academy and CD Victoria both have one draw and one loss, so each will seek to end their run in the tournament on a winning note. Kick-off is 3:30pm.
LA Galaxy will look to leapfrog Orlando City in the Group C standings and book a semifinal berth when they face Swindon Town FC at 5pm. The English side is coming off a day’s rest after defeats by Orlando City and Cavalier SC earlier in the week.
Manchester City and Cuba National U-15 battle for the top spot in Group A and an automatic semifinal berth when they meet at 6:30pm. Both teams are undefeated, although Manchester City sports a vastly greater scoring differential having won their first two matches by a combined 14-1 advantage.
With a place in the final four already guaranteed, Seattle Sounders take on Academy SC Select in the final match of group play. Academy, after two draws in two matches, is still in the race for second position in Group B.
The winners of each group move on to the semifinals, along with the best second-place finisher.
For more information, go to the Cayman Youth Football Cup website
