RSL Academy Finish the Weekend with Split Results Against Vancouver

The Real Salt Lake Academy hosted Vancouver Whitecaps at Zions Bank Training Facility for its second of two matches on the weekend. 

The RSL U15s began the match trading possession with Vancouver, finding a few opportunities but unable to find the back of the net. It wasn’t until the 39th minute when finally RSL saw a breakthrough. Midfielder Gilberto Garcia and forward Kevin Hernandez were running free on the counter attack down the right sideline when Hernandez laid it off to Garcia. Garcia was then fouled inside the box to set up a penalty kick for forward Axel Uriostegui, who buried the penalty into the bottom-right corner to put the U15s up 1-0 before the half. 

In the second half of play, the U15s were dominant on the offensive-end, firing multiple shots on goal, including another penalty kick from Uriostegui, but were unable to find the net again. The match finished 1-0 in favor of the Claret-and-Cobalt adding another three points as they prepare for MLS NEXT Cup.

At the U17 level, RSL started the match on the front foot scoring in the fifth minute. RSL Homegrown Axel Kei broke away from the Vancouver defense, looking as though he was clear for goal until he was fouled just outside the box to set up a free kick for midfielder Izzy Amparo. Amparo curled the ball perfectly over the ball and into the bottom left corner to open the scoring. After a Vancouver equalizer, the U17s found the net again in the 21st minute when defender Ethan Zamora hit a deep cross to the back post where he found Kei who was able to head it home to take the 2-1 lead. 

Shortly after Kei’s goal, Vancouver was given a penalty after a hard foul from defender David Navarro. As the penalty was being set up, Zamora was shown a red card for dissent leaving RSL with 10 men for the remainder of the match. Vancouver converted the equalizer and did not look back, finishing the match with a final score of 7-2 in favor of the away side. 

Up Next: The RSL Academy will host Portland Timbers on Sunday May 29 for its final home matches of the 2022 MLS NEXT spring season.