Match 5 Day Report - Cayman Airways Invitational Youth Football Cup - U15 Tournament

West Bay, Grand Cayman – The finals of the Cayman Airways Invitational Youth Football Cup have been set after Manchester City FC and the Cuba National U15 Team beat academy sides from two Major League Soccer (MLS) franchises in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Manchester City FC 3, LA Galaxy 2
It took regulation time plus two 10-minute extra periods to determine the first team to advance to Sunday’s final. A blunder by defender Harry Boyes in the first minute resulted in a Manchester City own goal and allowing LA Galaxy to take an early lead. Midfielder Cade Hagan added to the Galaxy tally four minutes later. Manchester City opened their account in the 10th minute with striker Bobby Duncan’s sixth goal of the tournament. The English side pulled even when Keyendrah Simmonds scored five minutes later. The score remained 2-2 through the first half. Galaxy’s Ulysses Llanes had a good strike saved by Curtis Anderson in the Manchester City goal in the 36th and Efrain Alvarez missed the mark on a breakaway late in regulation. Duncan scored again with what proved to be the match winner in the first minute of the first extra period to send his team through to the final.

Seattle Sounders FC 2, Cuba National U15s 5
The Cubans were on the offensive from the get go, taking the lead in the 5th minute courtesy a strike from Ribaldo Roldan Moreno. Two goal in successive minutes (14, 15) by Azriel Gonzales put Seattle in the lead. Gonzales flirted with a hat-trick when he hit the post a minute later. Vulnerable in goal, Cuba switched goal keepers, pulling Carlos Laferte and inserting first-choice stopper Cesar Destrade, who started the previous three games. Ernesto Chongo equalised for Cuba in the 20th minute. The scores remained level until the half. Moreno padded the Cuban lead in the 44th minute and 10 minutes later Yoendri Camejo joined in the scoring. A Seattle own goal in the 69th gave Cuba a 5-2 lead that would stand, setting up a rematch with Manchester City in the final. Manchester City won their group stage match 5-2 on Friday.