Two Victories in the East Coast Classic for the Red Bulls

This weekend featured the highly anticipated East Coast classic between the Philadelphia Union and the New York Red Bulls. Leading up to these fixtures, the U-15 and U-17 matches between both teams had resulted in a balanced record of 2 wins each over the past year.

Commencing the weekend's events, the U-17s witnessed the New York Red Bulls secure a 2-1 triumph over the Philadelphia Union. Anisse Saidi initiated the scoring in the 14th minute, skillfully striking the ball with his left foot after receiving it in the box. Tim Logan leveled the score for the Red Bulls just 7 minutes later, exhibiting a powerful left-footed shot over the goalkeeper following a brief clearance. Ryan Scouro's header in the 47th minute finalized the score at 2-1 in favor of the Red Bulls.

Subsequently, the U-15s took the field, with the New York Red Bulls prevailing 2-0 against the Philadelphia Union. Despite a closely contested match, the deadlock broke in the 65th minute with Will Pearce's goal, and Timothy McFarland sealed the victory with a goal in the 77th minute.

The Texas Derby Lived Up to the Hype

Turning attention to the Texas Derby, FC Dallas and Austin FC engaged in a highly anticipated match. The U-17 encounter saw Austin FC emerge victorious with a 3-1 scoreline. Joah Reyna, son of the legendary Claudio Reyna, opened the scoring at 5 minutes, and David Santos extended the lead to 2-0 10 minutes later. Although Gabriel Mendonca scored for the home team, Tate Duax sealed the final result at 3-1 in the 67th minute.

In the U-15 category, FC Dallas secured an impressive 6-1 victory over Austin FC. A brace from Christopher Cook, Jordyn Eason, Ahmad Odom, Dominic Salm, and Caleb Wegman contributed with the victory for the home team, while Rolando Garza scored the sole goal for Austin FC.

Curiosity didn’t kill the soccer player…

One attribute that stands out as a catalyst for the continuous learning and improvement required to achieve greater and greater levels of athletic success is curiosity.

Orlando City Academy Prodigies Shining with the First Team

Shifting focus, two promising players from the Orlando City academy, Justin Ellis and Colin Guske, have joined the first team during the preseason in Cancun. Their inclusion follows standout performances at the MLS Next Fest and the Flamengo Adidas Cup in Brazil. Ellis, Guske, along with other young talents like Tahir Reid Brown and Zakaria Taifi, are experiencing their inaugural training with the first team. This opportunity not only augments their development as players but also provides invaluable exposure to the professional environment, as they aspire to secure playing time in MLS Next Pro during the upcoming season.

Cavan Sullivan Moving Up the Ranks

According to multiple reports, 14-year-old Cavan Sullivan is set to join the Philadelphia Union II in Clearwater, Florida, for pre-season. Cavan, at the age of 14, has consistently demonstrated exceptional performance at the highest level whenever tested. During the summer, while playing for the United States Youth National Team, he competed a year above his age group, being the sole representative born in 2009. Remarkably, he contributed with numerous goals and assists, ultimately aiding in the team's triumph at the U-15 Concacaf Championship.

Additionally, Cavan plays a pivotal role on the U-17 Philadelphia Union squad, showcasing his talent throughout the season. Impressively, the team experienced only one defeat in the entire season with Cavan in their lineup.

Now, he is set to carry forward this positive momentum with the Philadelphia Union second team, as he strives to further his development and pave the way for his future in the sport.