Sporting KC U-14s crowned 2019 LA Galaxy Cup champions

By Sam Kovzan, 04/22/19, 1:15PM CDT

The Sporting Kansas City Academy U-14s were crowned champions of the second annual LA Galaxy Cup this weekend, defeating the San Diego Surf 3-2 in Sunday's championship at Irvine Great Park in Irvine, California.

Led by head coach Declan Jogi, the U-14s were one of four Sporting KC Academy sides competing in the elite youth tournament alongside the U-12s, U-13s and U-15s. Sporting's contingent went a combined 10-4-1 during the five-day tournament, with the U-15s and U-13s enjoying strong performances of their own en route to identical 3-1-0 records.

The U-14s opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over hosts LA Galaxy before battling the San Diego Surf to a 2-2 draw. A 5-0 victory over Albion SC set up a rematch with San Diego in the final, which saw Sporting prevail in a 3-2 thriller.

Sporting KC U-14 Roster: 2019 LA Galaxy Cup Champions

Ashton Adrian
Gianluca Armellino
Jacob Bartlett
Caleb Bueckner
Wesley Cribb
Charlie Duske
Jhonny Esparza
Frank Fuentes
Lucas Jeff
Barrett Kitts
David Rivera
Mauel Romero
Javier Zaragoza
Nati Clarke
Kelly Kipruto
Gage Akalu

Sporting KC U-15 Results

Date	Opponent	Result
Wed., April 17	Albion SC	L 2-3
Thu., April 18	San Diego Surf	W 2-1
Sat., April 20	LA Galaxy	W 4-0
Sun., April 21	Pateadores	W 7-1

Sporting KC U-14 Results

Date	Opponent	Result
Wed., April 17	LA Galaxy	W 2-1
Thu., April 18	San Diego Surf	T 2-2
Sat., April 20	Albion SC	W 5-0
Sun., April 21	San Diego Surf	W 3-2

Sporting KC U-13 Results

Date	Opponent	Result
Wed., April 17	San Diego Surf	W 2-0
Thu., April 18	LA Galaxy	W 3-2
Sat., April 20	Sevilla	L 1-3
Sun., April 21	Real Salt Lake	W 4-2

Sporting KC U-12 Results

Date	Opponent	Result
Wed., April 17	LA Galaxy	L 2-6
Thu., April 18	Strikers FC	L 0-4
Sat., April 20	LA Galaxy San Diego	W 3-1
Sun., April 21	Pacific Northwest SC	L 1-4

This weekend also marked the end of the 2019 Generation adidas Cup in Frisco, Texas, where the Sporting KC U-17s went 1-3-3 over the course of seven matches. Sporting's tournament campaign was highlighted by a 2-0 win over Jamaican side Mount Pleasant and included three penalty shootouts (counted as draws) against the Colorado Rapids, D.C. United and Portland Timbers.