The 2015-16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season reached its midpoint in grand fashion this weekend at the USSDA Winter Showcase in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
The Chicago Fire U-16s came away from the event with an impressive three wins from three, lifting their first-half season record to 7-4-1. In the group’s Showcase opener on Friday, Chicago’s Alan Salmeron provided the lone goal in a 1-0 defeat of Seattle Sounders FC. One day later, Andrew Akindele, Brayden Callipari and Edson Murguia all tallied in a 3-2 victory against Portland Timbers.
Play culminated with a Monday matchup vs. Baltimore Armour, as the Fire earned a 2-1 win on the strength of goals by Akindele and Vitalis Takawira Jr.
Chicago Fire Academy 2015-16 Schedules: U-16 | U-18
The defending USSDA national champion Chicago Fire Academy U-18 program left the event with a 1-1-1 record, bouncing back from a 3-2 loss to Seattle Sounders FC in their opener to defeat Colorado Rapids 1-0 in their second outing on a goal by Djordje Mihalovic.
The group’s final match resulted in a scoreless draw with Real So Cal, leaving the U-18s with a 7-2-3 mark and a fourth-place standing in the table entering the mid-season break.
Both the U-16 and U-18s claim at least one game in hand on the rest of their Mid-America Division opposition and resume play on Saturday, March 12 against Sockers FC.
Photo courtesy: U.S. Soccer
