November 15, 2019
RECAP
Casa Grande, Ariz – The Barça Residency Academy Pre-Academy U-15s and U-16s competed in the inaugural MIC USA Football Tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from November 9-11, 2019. Both teams competed in the U-16 Division, where the Barça Residency Academy U-16s placed second in the Gold Bracket after falling 1-0 to PSG Academy on Monday afternoon in a highly competitive Championship match. The U-15s, who played for a year, showed tremendous heart and perseverance as they finished second in the Silver Bracket after facing tough competition in the group stage.
2019 MIC USA Tournament – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The tournament kicked of on Saturday morning at the Central Broward Reginal Park in wet and rainy conditions. That day, each team competed in three 50-minute group stage games that set the stage for the knockout rounds the following day.
After finishing with a 1-1-1 group stage record, the U-16s were placed in the Gold Bracket. The U-15s finished with one win and two losses and were placed in the Silver Bracket.
Barça Residency Academy U-16 Group Stage Results
0-0 D vs. Miami Rush Kendall SC
1-3 L vs. CES / Juventus Zidane | Goal: Banyon Lyon
6-0 W vs. Pinecrest Premier U16 Blue | Goals: Banyan Lyon (3), Luca Sowinski (2), Adrien Graffin
Barça Residency Academy U-15 Group Stage Results
1-0 W vs. Jupiter United Premier | Goal: Michael Lucero
0-1 L vs. vs CES / Juventus Zoff
1-3 L vs. Doral Soccer Club U16 Elite | Goal: Aidan Onderdonk Snow
Both teams kicked off simultaneously in the quarter-finals on Sunday afternoon in beautiful, warm, and sunny weather. The U-16s topped Miami Beach Soccer Club 3-1 lead by Adrien Graffin who scored a brace and Shaan Malik who scored the other. The U-15s who were playing a few fields away claimed an impressive 3-0 shutout win over Colorado International Soccer Academy with two goals scored by Michael Lucero and one by Idoh Zeltzer-Zubida.
They later played in the semi-finals on Sunday night under the lights, Adrien Graffin scored his second brace of the day and lead the U-16s to a 2-1 win over PSG Academy 05. The U-15s defeated Barça Academy Chicago 1-0 and advanced to the Silver Bracket Final.
The U-16 MIC USA Finals took place on Monday morning with the Silver Bracket Final beginning at 10:30am followed by the Gold Bracket Final at noon.
The Barça Residency Academy U-15s met the Miami Rush U-16s in the Silver Bracket Final. Barca struggled to impose their style of play and ultimately fell 4-0 to Miami Rush after a 0-0 halftime scoreline.
“Although we had a good performance during the first half, we could not keep the level in the second half,” said head coach Alex Pozo. “Overall, we had a great experience, playing competitive games against tough and sometimes older opponents challenged the team to impose our style. The team grew significantly through the tournament which helps our players’ development and I couldn’t have asked of more from them.”
The Barça Residency Academy U-16s took the field next where they faced PSG Academy in the Gold Bracket Final. Barça controlled possession for majority of the game and had great goal scoring opportunities including a late penalty kick but fell 1-0 to PSG Academy.
“It was a difficult final, we controlled the majority of the game, create some chances and had possession, throughout the game,” said head coach Enrique San Juan. “Though we lost, I am content with my team’s performance, we never stopped playing our style and created many chances. It was just, unfortunately, one of those days for us.”
Adrien Graffin, who scored five goals over the course of the tournament, was awarded the Golden Boot, and AJ Wojtiuk was named MPV.
“I was glad to see how our two teams performed at MIC Cup, implementing the Barça way in both possession and recovery regardless of the level or the age of the opponent,” said technical director Xavi Bravo. “The 16’s showed a lot of potential and they were without a doubt, the best team in the tournament, building up from the back with effectiveness and confident as well as being clinical and showing their qualities, individually and as a team, in the final third. The 15’s performance was great considering that they played some of the games against teams one year up but they never gave up in order to keep playing under our style of play of philosophy.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Arizona Advanced League Schedules (All teams)
Desert Conference Schedule (U-17s and U-18s)
All five Pre-Academy teams will compete in the 2019 San Diego Surf College Cup Showcase that will take place November 29 – December 1, 2019.
