LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – The U14 Boys National Team was off to the races Saturday at Disney Wide World of Sports, scoring 9 goals total in a pair of wins against regional teams at the U.S. Youth Soccer Boys ODP Interregional.

The Navy team defeated the Region I ODP 97s 3-0, and the Red team outscored the Region IV ODP 97s by a 5-3 count.

Here is a look at the Navy squad warming up prior to their match.

U14 BNT Navy 4, Region I ODP 97s 0

The group coached by Louis Mateus and Manni Klar put in a solid performance against their opponents from the east. Right back Billy Abdallah of Cosmos Academy West was getting forward at every chance and looks like a lethal weapon out on the wing  his good service found the head of Pablo Pelaez who headed just wide in the opening minutes. Virginia midfielder Coy Craft was once again making himself available and keeping the ball moving well from his central midfield position.

Real So Cal’s Chester Castellaw again s plit time between midfield and the back line and again was a beast in winning possession but full of finesse in distribution.

Abdallah put the U.S. team on the board with a good finish after a setup by Christian Lucatero of Houstonians. Abdallah nearly scored a second with a weaving run but his shot went wide of the target. The U.S. did score a 2nd goal just before halftime however when Pelaez played a beautifully-weighted pass that dropped in behind the defense and right in the path of an on rushing Amirgy Pineda of Fullerton Rangers.  Pineda followed with an exquisite chip of the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.

In the 2nd half, Pineda finished another setup by Lucatero for 3-0 after a good run down the right by Benny Lorca of Real So Cal. The final goal came from Discoveries SC forward Caleb Moore, who possesses some other-worldly acceleration. Moore put in a good finish off yet another assist by Lucatero.

It was a tough day for Region I, but I thought Alex Vigliotti of Connecticut club South Central Premier showed some real quality on the ball.

Assistant coach Manni Klar gave his team good marks.

Lucatero and Pineda were a little bit shy in discussing their exploits

 
U14 BNT Navy Lineup
GK: Nicolas Pritchard
D: Billy Abdallah, Chester Castellaw, Guillermo Bermudez, Malcolm Jones
M: Josh Doughty, David Villegas, Coy Craft, Pablo Pelaez
F: Caleb Moore, Amir Bashti
Subs: Christian Herrera, Kevin Moranchel, Dominic Jensen, Donald Emerson, Amigry Pineda, Benny Lorca, Christian Lucero

Region I ODP 97s Lineup
GK: Max Lurie
D: Gary Foley, Erik Swenson, Ryan Bayne, Kelly Grant
M: Alex Vigliotti, James Brady, Callum Johnson, Kevin Carvalho
F: Justin Hansen, Jeremy Ebobisse-Ebolo
Subs: David Bateman, Dylan Cranmer, John Doran, Steven Dovi, Tyler Gabarra, Nicholas Giordano, Grant Kelly, Daniel O’Grady

U14 BNT Red 5, Region IV ODP 97s 3

This game started with a bang when Carmel United midfielder Cameron Lindley drilled a shot that took a deflection and found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead to the U14 BNT. Lindley impressed with a solid work rate in midfield and an ability to keep the ball moving.

Which was a good thing Saturday because this U14 BNT was moving forward all the time. Stephen Elias of Beachside SC stripped the ball from a Region IV defender in the forward third, made a quick move inside and then provided a fantastic finish to push the score to 2-0. Elias struck again after Gedion Zelalem of Potomac Fire passed to Lindley. Lindley fought off a challenge on the end line and played a pass to Elias in the area for the simple but effective finish and a 3-0 lead.

Clearly feeling it now and being urged on by their teammates from the Navy team, the U14s began pouring forward. Mukwelle Akale of Minnesota Thunder sent a lovely free kick in from the right and it found West Pines United’s Jean Orvil for a perfectly placed header and a 4-0 lead.

Assistant coach Mario Prata explained that the team got a little too adventurous at this point of the game.

As a result of the team thinking mainly about offense, Region IV showed it could score goals too. First, Edward Venta-Yepes of Colorado delivered a remarkable 40-yard strike to make it 4-1. Then just before halftime Dylan Smith of Southern California hit a terrific striker of his own from the penalty area and just like that it was 4-2.

Region IV didn’t let after the break either. Smith provided a  terrific turn and strike to score again and it was a one goal game at 4-3.Smith has good size and technique and a good goal-scorer’s attitude. He definitely made a very good case for himself to be invited in with the national team by the next camp, and almost scored an equalizer with a difficult volley attempt while being fouled just outside the area.  Alejandro Vergara also showed well on the day for Region IV, showing exceptional skill on the ball.

Amadu Kunateh of the Boston area club North Shore United scored a final goal for the U14s in the closing minutes, taking a pass from Columbus Crew midfielder Benny Swanson and finishing well for a final 5-3 scoreline.

Lindley and Akale talked about the team’s propensity for attacking the goal.

U14 BNT Red Lineup
GK: James Marcinkowski
D: Brendan Constantine, Max Stiegwardt, Joshua Cox, Jean Orvil
M: Mukwelle Akale, Sean Wilson, Cameron Lindley, Gedion Zelalem
F: Malcolm Dixon, Stephen Elias
Subs: Cameron Keys (GK), Evan Martinez, Benny Swanson, Shannon Seymour, Nathanael Rennhack, Christopher Gomez, Amadu Kunateh

Region IV ODP 97s Lineup
GK: Enrique Adame
D: Christian Segovia, Samuel Velez, Tosh Samkange, Diego Silva
M: Daniel Crisostomo, Reid Baez, Luis Carbajal, Edward Venta-Yepes
F: John Magnus, Dylan Smith
Subs: Alexis Hernandez, Kalab Karlek, Sebastian Saucedo, Adrian Vera, Alejandro Vergara, Justin Vom Steeg

Other Results (Courtesy US Youth Soccer)

1996
Toby Khounviseth’s goal in the 33rd minute was all the scoring as 1996 Region II defeated Region IV 1-0. A low, driven cross in the 33rd found Khounviseth 10 yards from goal and he made a quick spin move and blasted a shot off the far post and in for the winner.

Region I took command early in their game versus 1996 Region III en route to a 5-1 victory. Herber Mejia scored in just the 3rd minute on an assist from James Ellis Jr. Before halftime, Region I extended their lead to 4-0 with Mawolo Gissie goals in the 28th and 30th on assists from Patrick Berneski and Ellis, and an Adonis Martinez goal in the 35th. Region III finally found the net in the 45th when Dembakwi Yomba found Cameron Johnson unmarked in the box and Johnson finished with a one-time shot. However, Carter Manley put the finishing touch on a cross from Austin Sims three minutes later for Region I to finish 5-1.

1997
The 1997 Region II Red team overcame an early deficit to defeat Region III Green 2-1. Caleb Young gave Region III the lead in the 3rd minute after a breakaway and cool finish. Before the end of the half Region II was ahead as Julian Castro finished off a scramble in front of the Region III goal in the 22nd and Thomas Ueland received a corner kick at the top of the box and maneuvered into shooting position to finish in the 25th.

In the opening game for both teams, 1997 Region IV White and Region I White drew 3-3. Region I jumped out to a two goal lead when Kyle Duncan jumped on a rebounded save in the 19th minute for the first goal and then Benjamin Zieff dribbled two defenders near the top of the box before beating the keeper near post in the 27th. Region IV came roaring back in the second half after Thomas Silva took the ball down the left side, beating his defender and roofing a shot in the 49th. Jorge Ruiz evened the game in the 61st on a similar goal to Zieff as he took the ball down the left and placed a nice, low shot past the onrushing keeper. Region I grabbed the lead again seven minutes later when Donovan Carter brought the ball across the goal line from the right side and cut a pass back to Joseph Faddoul who finished the shot. Region IV answered three minutes later to level the score for good as Ruiz grabbed his second of the game from a well-placed free kick from 25 yards.

Region II White opened their weekend with a victory over 1997 Region III White 2-0. Eduvie Ikoba opened the scoring in the 24th when he collected a cross in the box and finished nicely. Jesus Perez added the insurance goal in the 70th on an unassisted blast from 25 yards out.

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