National Team Highlights
In the third match for the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team in the CONCACAF U-17 Championship, Atlanta United Academy player Zyen Jones scored the game-winner in a 1-0 victory over El Salvador. Watch his goal and his acrobatic celebration below:
The win sealed a perfect run in group play (3-0-0) for the U.S. U-17 MNT which has qualified them for the classification stage. Jones, along with Atlanta United first teamers Andrew Carleton and Chris Goslin, will face Honduras on Wednesday, May 3rd, a team that also features an ATL UTD academy player in Alex Bahr. You can watch the match at 2:30 p.m. ET on the CONCACAF YouTube Channel.
Also in USMNT news this week, academy players George Bello and Danny Mangarov lifted the trophy with the U-15 BNT in the Torneo Delle Nazioni in Italy after beating Portugal 4-2 in the semi-finals and topping England 2-1 in the tournament final. Congratulations to George, Danny and the rest of the U.S. U-15 BNT!
Finishing the 2016/17 Season
Each of Atlanta’s five academy teams will wrap-up the 2016-17 USSDA Regular Season in the middle of May. With a handful of matches left, Atlanta’s in prime position to end the year on a high note. You can check the league standings here.
The U-18s and U-16s each occupy the top spot in the Southeast Division in their respective age groups, poised to easily qualify for the postseason as both teams are currently holding top four overall national seeds. For each age group, 32 teams qualify. As for the 12s, 13s, and 14s, in which overall standings are not kept, those teams will also be wrapping up regular season play over the next month prior to the USSDA Summer Showcase.
“For our 16s and 18s, we’re preparing them to be ready for a tough postseason in June and July,” Annan said. “But for each team, we’re trying to see where the development has come over the last nine months. It’s about assessment over the final few weeks of the season.”
Gwinnett Braves Night
On Friday April 21st, local minor league baseball team the Gwinnett Braves held “Atlanta United night” where the team sported Atlanta United themed jerseys featuring red & black five stripes inspired by the MLS team’s kits. Guests at the game included members of Atlanta United’s Academy and stepping up to the mound to throw the first pitch of the ball game was U-12 academy player Alan Carleton, younger brother of ATL UTD’s Homegrown Andrew Carleton.
