A number of current and former Sounders Academy players featured for S2 and the first team over the weekend. With the USSDA Academy season all wrapped up, a pair of youth team players traveled with S2 for a clash against Arizona United SC. For the second week running, a Homegrown Player scored the decisive match-winning goal, while Jordan Schweitzer put in another decisive display at the heart of Seattle’s midfield. Meanwhile, Jordan Morris was held scoreless in a draw against Cascadia rivals Portland Timbers after scoring in the midweek 5-0 win over FC Dallas.
S2 3 at Arizona United SC 2 (7/16/16)
Homegrown Players scored all three goals for S2 against AZ United away on Saturday. The floodgates appear to be truly open for striker Darwin Jones, who followed up his first goal of the season against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC with a decisive brace against Arizona.
After coming up through the Academy system as a central striker, Jones has adapted very well to the right-side of S2’s three-man attack. The young forward alternated between receiving the ball to feet to take on defenders, and running in behind the opposition back line. His movement off the ball posed a serious problem all night for the United defenders, and Jones reaped the rewards with his first goal in the 25th minute. As Zach Mathers drove toward the mid-way line with the ball, he slipped a pass that split the right-sided defenders for Jones to run onto. He then drove toward the box before firing a shot to the near-post beyond AZ goalkeeper Jordan Stagmiller.
Holding midfielder Jordan Schweitzer added a second goal for Seattle just minutes before half-time. S2 was piling on the pressure toward the end of the first half, when Stagmiller produced a fine foot save on a close range shot from Myron Samuel. The rebound fell to Schweitzer roughly 25 yards from goal, before he deftly lifted the ball over Stagmiller with a no-look, left-footed chipped finish.
In addition to his classy goal, Schweitzer bossed the midfield with a series of strong tackles and an excellent range of passing. The local midfielder continues his strong run of form after recording the assist on Jones’ first goal of the season the previous week.
In the 56th minute, Jones doubled his goal tally on the night with another clever run down the right channel. With the AZ back line stepping up, Jones managed to hold his run long enough for Emir Alihodzic to supply a slide rule pass into space. Jones produced an excellent burst of pace to latch onto the pass, before settling with his first touch and again beating the goalkeeper to the near post.
The later stages of the match saw two recent graduates of Seattle’s youth system enter the fray. Nick Hinds, a United States U-20 international, came on for Myron Samuel in the 68th minute to help S2 hold onto the 3-2 lead. Normally a left back, Hinds played in a more advanced midfield role, which allowed him to showcase his skill going forward. One play in particular in the 74th minute demonstrated Hinds’ two-way ability. The University of Akron commit made a great sliding challenge to win back possession, beat another defender with an excellent Cruyff turn, and exchanged a couple of quick passes with Mark O’Ojong before zipping the ball into Schweitzer in the final third.
Hinds was joined on the field by his Academy teammate Lorenzo Ramos, when the young holding midfielder replaced Jones in the 82nd minute. Despite his limited time on the pitch, Ramos was able to showcase his composure on the ball and strength in the tackle. With a number of highly technical players on the pitch, Ramos was able to play simple 1-2 passes with his teammates as S2 looked to slow the tempo of the match and hold onto the win.
Sounders FC at Portland Timbers FC | July 17
Homegrown striker Jordan Morris entered his first Cascadia clash in a rich vein of form after scoring in Seattle’s 5-0 over FC Dallas. Despite making excellent runs in behind Portland’s back line all afternoon, Morris was unable to add to his impressive tally of seven league goals. Although he did not find the back of the net against Portland, Morris showcased the continual improvement to his overall game. The local product did an excellent job of balancing runs down the inside-right channel, which stretched the Timbers defense, with powerful hold-up play facing away from goal.
Midfielder Aaron Kovar entered the match as a substitute in the 71st minute for Andreas Ivanschitz, marking his 15th first team appearance on the year. The young winger put in an excellent 20-minute shift with a number of crucial tackles and perfectly weighted balls into the box.
In addition to producing a number of tricks and flicks going forward, Kovar found both Morris and Cristian Roldan in dangerous areas inside the box on several occasions that nearly led to goals. One play in the 81st minute was especially impressive: Kovar beat his defender with a perfectly executed Cruyff turn before firing a cross with his weaker right foot, which Roldan flicked on but was ultimately denied by an excellent save from Jake Gleeson.
