USDA Squads SLSG Metro vs SLSG Missouri
The St Louis and Metro teams played the first of the two games in their local derby on Sunday at AB Soccer Park. In the first, the U18 Missouri squad won a very close game against Metro by a 1-0 score. The goal was scored by Steven McAnany (SLU/Vianney) on a direct kick just outside the left side of the box. His shot apparently confused the defense as it went in untouched to the far side netting. It came in the first minute of the second half and it obviously changed the match. Metro had the better of the play in the first half although their only real opportunities came from several corner kicks and set pieces. Missouri’s goal opened up their game and they held on for the win with improved midfield play in the second half. Metro had a late opportunity go off the upright but were unable to score.
I talked to Jeremy Alumbaugh, Coach of the Metro team and Mark Dorsey, Coach of the Missouri team following the match. Click on the links to be taken to their comments on my Youtube channel.
The U16 teams played in the second match and this one was a 2-0 win for Missouri. The home team in white had control throughout most of the match, led by their dynamic strike team up top. Both goals were scored by Aris Nukic (Mehlville, #16) who got the first midway through the first half on a hard shot from 25 yards that skimmed across the top of the grass before entering the net close to the left upright. It came after Robbie Kristo’s (Parkway West, #12) shot rebounded out to Aris. The second goal was scored on a beautiful direct kick from the right side, getting under the cross bar and beyond the keepers hands. Aris had well over a dozen shots in the game and scored both times he kept the ball on frame. Kristo is a 6′ 4″ forward with wonderful touch who was Parkway West’s MVP as a sophomore and a young man I’m going to make a point of watching play in the fall for the Longhorn’s (pictured in the yellow boots above).
The teams will meet again in the final match of the season on Saturday June 5th. That’s the same day as the finals for MSHSAA Girls, going to be a tough call for me that day.
The Development Academy is a partnership between U.S. Soccer and the top youth clubs around the country to provide the best youth players in the U.S. with an every day environment designed to produce the next generation of National Team players. The Academy’s programming philosophy of increased training, less total games and more competitive games is based on U.S. Soccer’s Best Practices utilized by the U-17 U.S. National Team Residency program.
Here are photos from the U16 game. You can also find an album of photos from the U18 game on my photo website. Enjoy!
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