In addition to plenty of domestic success this past year, the Seattle Sounders FC Academy made important strides in international competition.
In May, the Sounders U-14s travelled to the Caribbean for the Cayman Airways Invitational Youth Football Cup. The tournament featured some of the top youth teams from the United States, such as D.C. United, the LA Galaxy and IMG Academy. Where the Rave Green truly benefitted, though, was from the exposure to international competition. The tournament field was comprised of English clubs like Manchester City and Swindon Town, as well as Central American powerhouses like Honduras’ CD Victoria.
The ultimate goal of Sounders Academy is to develop players for the first team, so it is crucial to expose the players to professional environments at a young age. With the extensive travel, blistering heat, raucous crowds and physical opponents, the young Sounders were immersed in the types of conditions they will experience as professionals. Despite the adversity, the kids stepped up.
“We want to give the players multiple experiences, and at international competitions we can learn a lot about our players, and they can learn a lot about the game, in a short period of time,” said Academy Technical Director Marc Nicholls. “To play against varied opponents with different playing styles in a tournament format is a good test for the boys.”
The young Sounders topped a group which boasted CD Victoria, IMG Academy and the U-15 Cayman national team. After three matches, the team remained unbeaten while posting a plus-10 goal differential, as well as scoring the goal of the tournament. With some impressive collective and individual performances — striker Azriel Gonzalez registered eight goals and four assists in just five matches — the young Sounders eventually finished in fourth place after narrow defeats to the U-15 Cuban national team and the Galaxy.
In August, the Sounders U-16s travelled to Sheffield, England, for the Youdan Trophy and returned home champions. Forward Gonzalez and attacking midfielder Danny Robles collected the Golden Boot and Tournament MVP awards respectively.
The tournament is billed as a showcase for the “stars of the future” and the field was comprised of storied clubs like Everton FC, Newcastle FC, Celtic and FC Basel. The young Sounders squared off against future European stars, and the Sounders’ success is indicative of the bright future for the Seattle soccer scene.
Despite being placed in a group alongside clubs like Newcastle and Charlton Athletic, the Rave Green advanced to the semifinals after scoring 10 goals in three matches. The group then toppled Wolverhampton Wanderers by a score of 3-1. In the final, the young Sounders took on Swiss powerhouse FC Basel, a club that has produced the likes of Ivan Rakitic and Granit Xhaka, in the championship match.
In an end-to-end affair, two individual moments of magic sealed the victory for the Rave Green. Goalkeeper Noah Thomas saved a penalty kick just before halftime, and after collecting the rebound, struck a precise punt down field that found Gonzalez. The talented young forward turned his marker and then lobbed the goalkeeper with a deft volley. After the interval, the Sounders produced some resolute defending to hold onto the lead and lift the Youdan Trophy.
“These international competitions were a great experience for the boys,” said Nicholls. “To come away from both tournaments with an appearance in a semifinal and winning a final speaks to the bright future for the club.”
With so much success in international competition in 2016s, the Sounders Academy staff hopes to build upon these accomplishments in 2017.
