The Sounders FC Academy teams took on rival Crossfire Sunday night at Redmond High School in the first meeting of the two local powers this season.Â
REDMOND, WA—The Sounders FC Academy teams took on rival Crossfire Sunday night at Redmond High School in the first meeting of the two local powers this season. The Sounders FC team and Crossfire serve as travel partners in the NW Division in the US Soccer Development Academy, allowing for each team to play two games on the road and at home on most weekends against non-local teams.
In the earlier game, Sounders FC U18’s cruised to a 2-0 victory behind the stellar play of Dom Dismuke. Dismuke had two goals, one in the 28th minute assisted by Jesse Klug and another in the 53rd from Ike Crook. Keeper Keenan Townsend’s shutout was highlighted by a huge save in the 41st minute to prevent an equalizing goal at the start of the second half.
The later of the two games between the U16 squads proved to be quite a dandy. In a rain-soaked late-evening match, Crossfire was able to score in the 80th minute—just before the final whistle—to notch a 2-2 draw. After Crossfire went up 1-0 with a goal in the 18th minute, Sounders FC responded in the 30th when James Molyneux-Elliot scored on a pass from Michael Steele. That combination worked again in the 45th when Steele scored on a quality cross from Molyneux-Elliot to give Sounders FC the lead. However, in the 80th minute a Crossfire free kick caused a scramble in the box that led to a game-tying goal in the final moments of play.
The Sounders FC U18 team is 2-1-0 on the year overall and 1-0-0 in the NW Division, while the U16 Sounders FC Academy team is 1-1-1 overall and 0-0-1 in the NW Division. Both teams play again in official competition on October 21st versus San Diego Nomads and again on October 23rd versus San Diego Surf. These games will be played at the Starfire Sports Complex.