A goal and an assist from the Stanford-bound forward led the Academy team to a 2-1 win in the Texas tournament.
Just a month ago, Sounders FC Academy forward Jordan Morris was fighting for a spot the U.S. U-20 National Team roster for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup being played right now in Turkey. While getting time at the Toulon Tournament in France, he became a hot topic of conversation among those who follow the US Youth National Teams, but was unable to secure a spot on the World Cup squad.
That left him available for the Sounders FC U-18 squad for the 2013 USSDA Playoffs and things got off to a hot start in Frisco, Texas, for the Stanford-bound star.
The Mercer Island High School product tallied a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over Real So Cal on Monday in the opening match for Seattle in the playoffs. Morris laid off a ball for Henry Wingo to open scoring in the 20th minute, then scored a goal of his own in the 32nd minute to give the Sounders the 2-0 first-half lead. Real So Cal tightened up that lead early in the second half when they were awarded a penalty kick. Paul Christensen made the initial stop, but Real So Cal scored off the rebound to make it 2-1 and that is how it would end as Seattle took the early lead in their group.
Game 2 for the Sounders U-18 team comes Tuesday evening at 5:15 pm PT against Players Development Academy of New Jersey from FC Dallas Park’s youth fields in Frisco, Texas. The Sounders U-16 team got started at 3:15 pm PT against Real So Cal.