The IMG Cup opened up for the U19 teams with a slew of games early in the morning on Saturday.
IMG Academy U19 1-0 Botafogo Academy
The IMG Academy U19 team controlled the pace, and the ball, throughout their 1-0 victory over the Brazilian Botafogo Academy team. IMG saw itself with eight corner kick opportunities, but failed to find open space in the box to convert. The Brazilian club seemed to have been bogged down by their travel time as they failed to find the back of the net in the first match of the weekend.
“They don’t have too many chances to play international games … it’s a good measure for us, playing against a Brazilian team,” said Juan Cruz Real, head coach of IMG Academy U19. “I think overall our performance was good.”
IMG struck first when Michael Jean-Charles found open space at the top of the box, settled a cross from the left side of the field, took a few steps and then rifled the ball low past the goalkeeper in the 28th minute.
Even though IMG was awarded eight corner kicks, they only managed to head the ball toward the net twice – both sailed wide. Rubens Neto, Botafogo’s goalkeeper, managed to get his hands on three of IMG’s eight chances from the corner, including a solid strike from defender Ryan Cantarella that sailed slightly over the head of Jean-Charles. Neto also made a tremendous diving stop to keep the game 1-0 when defender Callum Horn sailed a ball into the box from a little short of midfield that found its way off of Jean-Charles’ head and on net.
Botafogo turned up the heat in the final five minutes of the match, but because they struggled to get the ball past midfield until that point, it proved to be too little too late for the Brazilians.
Plantation FC Premier 2-0 Premier PSA Lanus
Plantation FC Premier ruled the score sheet, ball possession, shots and corner kick chances. Plantation put a goal in during each half, but they maintained a strong presence on the ball throughout the whole.
“I thought we played well. The boys did a good job of playing the ball, playing the feet, playing simple,” said Jimmy Sotter, coach of Plantation FC Premier. “I think we wore them down a little bit. They were doing a lot of chasing.”
Midfielder Fernando Ramirez put Plantation on the board in the 21st minute when he dribbled the ball free of opponents and struck it low to the far side from near the top of the box. It was not the last time he ended up with the ball on his foot in a prime position to score. It was, however, his only goal as two chances would miss the net.
Plantation had a quality scoring chance in the 47th minute when midfielder Andrew Booth shook a defender with a wicked crossover that he followed by a low shot on goal, but PSA’s keeper made a diving grab to haul it in.
The keeper had no chance on Plantation's second tally, though, which came in the 63rd minute. Defender Aubrey Mixon crossed a ball into the center of the box that was one-timed into the top left corner of the net by midfielder Stefano Delgado.
The remainder of the game was all Plantation. In the closing minutes of the match, Delgado got another crack at scoring but was denied by the keeper. The rebound then came out for midfielder Gerardo Samiento who was denied as well.
FC Plant City 1-0 United 1996 FC
FC Plant City came out displaying a classic European style of futbol. They continued to get everyone touches while they played keep away from United 1996 FC. The possession paid off for Plant City as they won 1-0.
“We always try to promote good futbol, a good style of play,” said Stephn Rossiter, head coach of FC Plant City. “We promote possession and true education of the game. So holding the ball, keeping possession of the game, is one of our top priorities.”
In the 22nd minute Forward Luis Morales-Rodriguez found himself swarmed by two opposing defenders so he dished the ball over to Pedro Espinal-Castro, who managed to put it between the legs of the United’s keeper and into the back of the net. The lone goal stood as the determining marker of the game.
Defender Ivan Ibarra was a one man wrecking crew on defense as he always found the right touch without misplaying the ball. He didn’t necessarily stand out offensively, but he helped hold the opposing offense in check.
The remainder of the game was a chess match between the teams. Erick Olascoaga, Plant City defender, would push the ball up the field one way and Thomas Shellenberg, United defenseman, would push it right back. Midfielder Colin Barker gave United false hope in the closing half as he drilled one on net only be stopped by the diving net minder of Plant City.
Here are the five players that stood out from the games that TopDrawerSoccer saw.
