The Impact U17 and U19 teams had a packed schedule these past few days, playing three games in four days in the Winter Showcase in Bradenton, Florida, all against teams at the top of the Development Academy table.
The Impact U17 wins two of its three games
Head coach Nicolas Gagnon’s players started the campaign on the right foot with a 2-1 win against Sacramento Republic FC.
The Californian club took an early lead, but Abdul Binate and Matthew Catavolo scored two quick goals to put the Bleu-blanc-noir in front in the first half. The team was able to hold on in the second half for its first win.
The task was a little more difficult the following day. Against the Los Angeles Galaxy, Montreal lost 3-1. The Galaxy scored first, but the Impact levelled the score immediately with a goal from Georges-Édouard Tissot. Los Angeles still managed to score the next two goals and win the game.
In its last game, against Orlando City SC, the Impact won 3-2. If the Floridian team scored first in the first half, Maximilian Banfi quickly brought both teams back on level terms. Orlando saw one of its players ejected soon after, but still managed to score another goal. The Impact U17 took the lead in the second half after Matthew Catavolo and Maxime Bourgeois scored a goal each to end the showcase on a positive note with a second win.
Bumpy road for the Impact U19
The Impact U19 lost 2-1 against Sockers FC in its first game of the showcase. Defender Yohan Le Bourhis managed to give his team the lead with a header from a Calin Calaidjoglu corner kick in the 41st minute, but Sockers FC equalized before halftime and scored the winning goal in the second half.
Against FC Dallas, the day after, the Bleu-blanc-noir tied 2-2 in a high-level game where both teams pushed each other to be at their best. Le Bourhis scored again with another header to open the score, this time off a cross from Zachary Fernandez. Mikale Fontaine doubled Montreal’s lead in the second half, but Dallas came from behind with two goals to tie the game before the final whistle.
Despite playing a quality game for over 60 minutes, Vancouver beat the Impact U19 team 3-0 in its last game of the tournament. The Impact allowed two of the three goals while playing with 10 men in the second half.
Winter break
The three Impact teams in the Development Academy are now on break, with the season restarting on Saturday, March 16, against the Boston Bolts, in Brighton, Massachusetts.
