“The Week in Review,” is a weekly series that highlights the biggest storylines and news updates from Sporting Kansas City.
1. Sporting KC Academy competes at MLS NEXT Fest
This past week, five Sporting KC Academy teams competed in the second-ever MLS NEXT Fest at Empire Polo Ground in Indio, CA as one of 400 clubs to compete in the showcase. From Dec. 2-8, Sporting’s U-13, U-14, U-15, U-17 and U-19 squads played in three matches in front of U.S. Soccer’s Director of Talent Identification, Tony Lepore, and his staff as well as a large number of college programs and professional clubs.
The Sporting KC U-13s played three competitive matches, suffering defeats in all three. The U-14s claimed victory in their first match over Valeo FC, trouncing them 5-1 before slipping to two losses in their final two matches. The U-15s triumphed on penalties in both of their first two matches then slipped to a loss in their final contest. The U-17s opened with consecutive one-goal losses but won their final match in a competitive 1-0 win over NYCFC’s U-17s. The U-19s showed out, winning 2-0 over Vardar and 2-1 over Southern Soccer Academy. Their third match ended in a 1-1 draw with Springfield SYC Soccer.