RSL Academy U-15 vs KRC Genk U-15
BRADENTON, FL (April 5, 2023)- RSL Academy faced KRC Genk in the Round of 16 at Generation Adidas Cup, losing 2-1 to the Belgian side. RSL looked to mount a late comeback after falling behind 2-0, but could not score a second after Armani Haro pulled one back in the 59th minute.
A physical first half saw the first 10 minutes pass without consequence. Genk came to life midway through the first, keeping RSL under pressure high up the pitch. In the 16th minute, they found the first goal of the match, a Genk shot bounced off the post, falling to a forward in the box who converted the chance. RSL then turned up the intensity and began attacking the Genk goal in earnest. In the 19th minute, Luca Moisa found Khododad Panahi at the top of the box whose long range effort forced the Genk goalkeeper into a sprawling save to his left. The Genk keeper came up big once again, tipping the ball behind for a corner after Javier Martinez attempted to pick out the top right corner from distance.
RSL began the second half as they ended the first, forcing another great save out of the Genk keeper, the shot coming from Haro just inside the 18 yard box. Haro made some room to his left and fired low at the far corner, but the keeper got just enough on it to push it around the upright. RSL continued to attack, playing primarily through Panahi and Juan Villa on the right wing. In the 43rd minute, Villa beat his man and served in a cross to the back post where Axel Uriostegui was waiting. He headed the ball down into the ground goalward, but the Belgian keeper again made the stop. Genk doubled their lead in the 53rd minute, winning the ball in RSL’s defensive third and knocking it past goalkeeper Will Mackay. Haro brought the game within touching distance in the 59th minute, scoring a brilliant volley from Van Parker’s cross. Ultimately, RSL was unable to find the tying goal.
RSL Academy Scoring Summary:
Armani Haro 59th minute: Van Parker served a ball targeting the penalty spot where Armani Haro was waiting. Haro volleyed with his right foot to the top right corner of the goal.
What’s Next: The U-15 team is officially eliminated from the tournament portion of GA Cup. They will continue to play in the Showcase, facing Valencia CF on April 6 at 7:00 a.m. MDT.
RSL Academy U-17 vs Pumas UNAM U-17
Bradenton, FL (April 5, 2023)- Coach Cody Worden fielded a heavily rotated side to begin Showcase play against Pumas UNAM. RSL began on the front foot, scoring twice through Gabriel Oksanen and Gilberto Garcia within 15 minutes. The two goals along with some stellar saves from Lucas Russo and Nicholas Nobles were enough to claim the victory against the Mexican opposition.
The squad rotation paid off as the U-17eam suffocated the Pumas defense and drew a penalty kick in the 6th minute. Gabriel Oksanen made no mistake from the spot calmly knocking it to the keeper’s left side into the net. RSL doubled their lead 5 minutes later through Gilberto Garcia. Jude Wellings played a through ball to Garcia, who cut in to his left and curled it to the far corner of the net. In the 27th minute, Lucas Russo was tested for the first time, popping a high shot onto the crossbar and gathering the rebound before Pumas could capitalize.
Halftime saw Garcia exit for Tony Ramirez. Wellings had a chance to extend the lead in the 34th minute, but fired his shot over the bar from just outside the 18 yard box. Pumas had a wide open chance to score a goal of their own in the 40th minute. A cross found its way to an open Pumas player on Russo’s back post who would have converted the chance if not for Nicholas Nobles’ goal line clearance. Nobles came up with another goal line clearance just a minute later, after Russo blocked the initial shot which fell to another Pumas forward. Russo preserved his shutout in the 50th minute, getting down sharply to his left and knocking it into the upright before securing the ball.
RSL Academy Goal Scoring Summary:
Gabriel Oksanen 6th minute penalty: Oksanen calmly passed the ball into the bottom right corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Gilberto Garcia 11th minute: Jude Wellings played a through ball to Garcia down the right wing who cut in to his left and curled his shot inside the far post.
What’s Next: The U-17 team will play their second Showcase match against Minnesota United FC on April 6 at 2:30 p.m. MDT.
