USSDA Winter Showcase: Kendall S.C. U-17/18 tops Real Salt Lake-AZ 2-1

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Florida (Via U.S. Soccer) – A flurry of chances from Real Salt Lake-AZ U-17/18 was out done by second half strikes from Gabriel Baptista and Joshua Franco who led Kendall S.C. U-17/18 to a 2-1 victory in both sides’ final matches at the 2015 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase.

The game began at a furious pace, with both sides earning chances in the first five minutes. In the second minute, Philippe Stengel played Joshua Franco, who struck his effort from the top of the box off the cross bar.

RSL-Arizona responded three minutes later when Gavino Carranza’s overlapping run from left back resulted in a cross for Jesus Avelar, who pulled his effort just right of goal.

Play calmed down a bit, but RSL would have two close chances before the break. The first came in the 23rd minute when David Ramos’ cross from the right picked out Duncan Storey who pushed his shot just past the left post.

In the 42nd minute, Ramos collected the ball at the top of the penalty area before taking space and unleashing a bullet that Kendall ‘keeper Ryan Shellow was equal to, keeping things level going into halftime.

RSL came close again after the break when Avelar did well to work past his man just inside the penalty box, but curled his shot right of goal in the 48th minute.

Kendall struck back with the game’s first goal in the 52nd minute as Gabriel Baptista threaded through two RSL defenders in the box before hitting a well-placed shot inside the right post.

They would double their lead in the 59th minute when Jonathan Bolanos’ corner from the right found Franco at the back post. Having already hit the bar, he made no mistake this time, striking his shot back across goal to take the score to 2-0.

RSL worked hard to erase the two-goal deficit, earning a 66th minute free kick which saw Marco Gonzalez force a big save out of Shellow.

Ten minutes later, Alec Felix picked up a bouncing ball outside of the area and blasted a long-range, bouncing effort that skipped through traffic and was well-held by Shellow.

RSL finally broke through in the 82nd minute when a cross from the right found William Garton at the back post, who one-timed past Shellow.

Though full of energy to find the equalizer, RSL couldn’t produce another strong chance in the game’s closing minutes as Kendall SC saw out the 2-1 victory.