The Seattle Sounders U14 Academy team continued its blistering start to the Annual Cayman Airways Invitational Youth Football Cup with a 4-1 win over Honduran side CD Victoria. With the result, Seattle became the first team to qualify for the knockout rounds by winning its group.
The youngest members of the Sounders youth system have established themselves as serious contenders in a competition boasting U14 Academy sides from Manchester City, LA Galaxy and IMG, as well as the U-15 Cuban National team. Seattle’s first two matches of the tournament, against IMG Academy and CD Victoria respectively, were a demonstration in the intricate balance between excellent team-play and individual brilliance.
Through the first two matches, Seattle has recorded a +10 goal difference, with eight different players getting their names on the score-sheet. In the first match against IMG Academy, the Sounders found themselves trailing 2-0 before the 10th minute. However, led by hat trick heroes Azriel Gonzales and Camilo Santiago, Seattle tallied nine unanswered goals en route to an impressive win over the residential academy from Florida.
Despite dominating the first half and carving out a number of chances, Sounders FC fell behind 1-0 in the 30th minute courtesy of CD Victoria set-piece. However, Seattle found an equalizer in first-half stoppage time via the left-foot of outside back Connor Drought. The attacking full-back found himself with time and space 30-yards from goal, and struck a vicious, rasping effort that dipped below the crossbar at the last second, leaving the opposition goalkeeper stranded. Perhaps inspired by the first half-wonder goal, the Rave Green took control of the match after the interval, courtesy of goals from Peter Kingston, Daniel Robles, and Ethan Dobbeleare.
The U-14s wrapped up group play on Friday evening with a 2-2 tie against the Cayman Islands. Having already secured top spot in Group B, the Sounders will take on the U-15 Cuban National Team on Saturday. The winner will take on the victor of the other semi-final, between Manchester City and LA Galaxy.
You can follow the Sounders progress, as well as their highlights, over the course of the tournament on Twitter.
