The inaugural ECNL International Tournament, powered by Coaches' Voice and held in association with Everton International Academy kicked off today with group play, as four ECNL Boys clubs (Eastside FC, North Carolina FC, Oklahoma Energy FC and XF Academy) and four European academies (Chelsea FC, Everton, Leeds United and Wrexham AFC) competed against each other for the first time in either league's history.
Held at Finch Farm, Everton FC's world-class first-team training facilities, Day 1 was filled with incredible competition, where clubs from both continents came together for a celebration of sport and showcased top talent from both sides of the Atlantic.
When the day ended, the four semifinalists had been set. Oklahoma Energy (ECNL) and Chelsea (EPL) advanced from Group A as winner and runner-up, respectively, while Eastside SC (ECNL) and North Carolina FC (ECNL) both tied for the top spot in Group B, securing their spots in the semifinals. Already a landmark event for the ECNL, having three teams advance is a defining moment for the league.
"This tournament will create lifelong memories for the players, coaches, and families, and to see the incredible, well-balanced competition is certainly a huge testament to the clubs and everyone involved in growing the sport in the US," said ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney. "To see American, English, and Welsh clubs all come together in fantastic matches that could go either way is inspiring. Congrats to all of these clubs, and we hope this will be the first in many, many such events moving forward."
Oklahoma Energy earned their spot in the semifinals by going 2-1-0 in group play. Energy opened up the tournament by facing Chelsea and immediately put the Blues on their heels. Oklahoma scored early in the match to take a 1-0 lead, but then two quick goals at the end of the half by Chelsea put them ahead going into the second frame. Another goal in the second half pushed Chelsea ahead for good, but set the stage for dramatics later in the day.
Energy then faced off against hosts Everton in their second match, once again scoring early against their European counterparts for a 1-0 lead, but then the Toffees countered with a goal of their own near the end of the first to take a 1-1 draw into the second half. Two Oklahoma Energy goals bookended the second half, putting them in a great position to advance into the knockout stage.
Heading into their match against fellow ECNL club XF Academy, Oklahoma Energy needed a point to advance to the semifinals, and a win to outright win the Group. For the third straight game, Energy opened the scoring, taking a 1-0 lead that carried into halftime. Midway through the second half, XF Academy drew even, but with five minutes left, Oklahoma redirected a cross into the top right corner of the goal, sending the Energy into the semifinals as the Group A winner.
In Group B, Eastside and North Carolina FC went back and forth in a thoroughly entertaining opening match, drawing each other 2-2 and earning a point within the group. In their second matches of the tournament, Eastside SC faced off against Wrexham AFC, notching three consecutive goals in the first half and ultimately beating the Red Dragons 5-1. North Carolina battled Leeds United in their second match, one that tested both teams from the first minute to the last. Both teams traded chances throughout the first half, but entered the break tied 0-0. It wasn't until the dying minutes of the second half when North Carolina FC finally broke through, putting the team in a great position to advance.
With both Eastside and North Carolina FC tied atop Group B with four points, a win would guarantee a spot in the semifinals, while a draw would be dependent on other results. Eastside finished up the group stage against Leeds United, who was just one point behind them in the standings. Eastside quickly jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Leeds, but the English side responded a few minutes later with a set-piece of their own to make it a 1-1 contest. Eastside regained the lead early in the second half and then added an exclamation point for the 3-1 victory, clinching a semifinal slot in the process. North Carolina battled Wrexham, who had already been eliminated from the knockout round, and went wire to wire against the Red Dragons. North Carolina opened the scoring early in the first half and carried a 1-0 lead into halftime, then exploded with four goals in the second frame to earn the 5-0 win and the second semifinal slot in Group B.
Despite not advancing, XF Academy put together three strong games, and one particular player stood out. Gael Garcia earned Man of the Match honors for XF Academy for all three group stage games at the ECNL International Tournament, the only player to earn such a distinction.
Semifinal Matchups:
Oklahoma Energy FC vs. North Carolina FC - 11:40am BST/5:40am EST
Eastside FC vs. Chelsea FC - 11:40am BST/5:40am EST
Consolation Matchups:
Everton FC vs. Wrexham AFC - 10:30am BST/4:30am EST
Leeds United vs. XF Academy - 10:30 am BST/4:30am EST
To view the complete results and schedule for the ECNL International Tournament, click here. To watch every match of the ECNL International Tournament, including semifinal, consolation and championship matches, click here.
