The U-12 Kia Toronto FC Academy won both their matches to kickoff the Generation adidas Cup on Thursday, defeating Orlando City Youth 3-0, and LAFC 4-3.
Kia TFC Academy 3-0 Orlando City Youth
These are always exciting matches to watch: 15 minute halves, 7-v-7 competition, and a smaller pitch always means high-paced, end-to-end action.
The U-12’s impressed in their first match of the Generation adidas Cup.
Forward Jahkeele Marshall-Ruty opened up the scoring early on with a shot from just outside the box that went bar down.
Still in the first half, Marko Stokadinovic curled a shot into the top right corner to make it 2-0 for the Young Reds.
The TFC Academy added a third in the second half.
Goalkeeper Dino Bontis was tested a few times in the second half and came up with some huge saves to preserve the shutout.
Kia TFC Academy 4-3 LAFC
What a match.
It was back-and-forth action between the two young teams right from the get go.
Luca Accettola made it one nil with a shot from the top left corner of the box that sailed into the upper right corner of LAFC’s net.
LAFC leveled the score shortly after and both teams would go into halftime tied at 1.
The Young Reds broke the deadlock through Marshall-Ruty, who burst through the LAFC defense before netting his second goal of the tournament.
LAFC would answer and then take a 3-2 lead thereafter.
Accettola would equalize for TFC Academy with a great individual effort, dribbling into the middle of the field from the right before hitting a high shot past the LAFC keeper.
A minute before the final whistle, Accettola would get his hat trick and the game winner for the Young Reds.
Marshall-Ruty made a great play down the left side before finding an open Accettola on the right, who calmly walked in and placed a shot in the far corner to give the TFC Academy their second win of the day.
The U-12’s are back at it on Friday as they take on Celta de Vigo at 10:35 AM ET followed by another match that the opponent and time is yet to be determined.