CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – GSA Exports is a feature in which we track the progress of former Grande Sports Academy players who are playing professionally. There are currently nine professional players in five different countries that have ties to the Grande Sports Academy. GSA Exports will track players who have been called up to national team duty and Real Salt Lake Reserve League matches.
NOTE: Nico Muñiz originally signed with RSL, and is without a team. Romain Gall has signed a youth contract with FC Lorient.
For a full run down on all the weekend’s action, check out the capsules below.
Match recaps from: January 28th-February 4th
National Team
Christian Herrera, RSL-AZ, U-18 MNT: Not named to starting XI in the U-18 MNT’s 0-1 loss to Spain in the first match at the Copa Del Atlantico.
2014 stats: 0 games
Sebastian Saucedo, RSl-AZ, U-18 MNT: Named to the starting XI in U-18 MNT’s 0-1 loss to Spain U-18 in the first match at the Copa Del Atlantico.
2014 stats: 1 game, 1 start
Major League Soccer
Carlos Salcedo, D, Real Salt Lake: Salcedo made his professional debut on May 5th, 2013, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute in an RSL win. Injuries to RSL’s backline thrust Salcedo into the starting XI where he was named as a starter in twelve league matches and played a vital role during RSL’s U.S. Open Cup run. Salcedo was named as a started in four cup matches, including the heartbreaking title loss to D.C. United on October 2nd. The Claret-and-Cobalt will begin preparations for the 2014 MLS season by spending a portion of their preseason at Grande Sports World from January 25th-February 1st. RSL will wrap up its preseason by participating in the Desert Diamond Cup from February 17th-March 1st, and will start the 2014 season against LA Galaxy on March 8th in Los Angeles.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Benji Lopez, F, Real Salt Lake: Lopez signed with Real Salt Lake on July 15th, 2013. Lopez saw minutes in RSL’s Reserve League matches and was called into U.S. Soccer’s U-18 MNT camp on numerous occasions. The Claret-and-Cobalt will begin preparations for the 2014 MLS season by spending a portion of their preseason at Grande Sports World from January 25th-February 1st. RSL will wrap up its preseason by participating in the Desert Diamond Cup from February 17th-March 1st, and will start the 2014 season against LA Galaxy on March 8th in Los Angeles.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Lalo Fernandez, GK, Real Salt Lake: Fernandez made his professional debut on July 12th, 2013 against Antigua Barracuda FC while on a loan to USL Pro club Phoenix FC. In Fernandez’s lone start for the Wolves, he made three saves and earned a clean sheet in a 1-0 win. The Claret-and-Cobalt will begin preparations for the 2014 MLS season by spending a portion of their preseason at Grande Sports World from January 25th-February 1st. RSL will wrap up its preseason by participating in the Desert Diamond Cup from February 17th-March 1st, and will start the 2014 season against LA Galaxy on March 8th in Los Angeles.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Jordan Allen, M/D, Real Salt Lake: Allen signed with Real Salt Lake on December 31st, after wrapping up his freshman year at the University of Virginia, where he was a key figure for the Cavaliers’ in the 2013 College Cup. He scored the match-winning goal against UConn in the quarterfinals and was one of three players at Virginia to start all 24 matches. Allen was an ACC All-American Team honoree, a third-team All-ACC honoree and was named to the NSCAA’s South Atlantic Region second team. The former Grande Sports Academy midfielder was named the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy Player of the Year, USSDA Western Conference Player of the Year and earned a spot on the USSDA Starting XI Team of the Year for the 2011-2012 season. The Claret-and-Cobalt will begin preparations for the 2014 MLS season by spending a portion of their preseason at Grande Sports World from January 25th-February 1st. RSL will wrap up its preseason by participating in the Desert Diamond Cup from February 17th-March 1st, and will start the 2014 season against LA Galaxy on March 8th in Los Angeles.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Eriq Zavaleta, F, Seattle Sounders: Zavaleta signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer and was selected as the 10th overall pick by Seattle Sounders FC in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. Zavaleta made his professional debut on March 23rd, 2013 against the San Jose Earthquakes when he was subbed on in the 84th-minute. Zavaleta appeared in four more matches for the Sounders and was loaned out in June to the San Antonio Scorpions of the NASL. With the Scorpions, Zavaleta was named to the starting XI in four matches and scored his first professional goal against Fort Lauderdale Strikers on June 30th. The Sounders will spend a portion of their upcoming preseason in Arizona from January 29th-February 9th and will kick off the 2014 season against defending MLS champions Sporting Kansas City on March 8th.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Tippeligaen (Norway – First Division)
Ben Spencer, F, Molde FK: Spencer made his professional debut on September 1st, 2013, against Vålerenga when he was subbed on in the 76th-minute. He made one more league appearance for Molde FK on November 10th against Start as a 83rd-minute substitute. Molde defeated Rosenborg 4-2 in the 2013 Norwegian Football Cup final on November 24th, and earned an automatic berth into the second qualifying round of the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League. The 2014 Tippeligaen kicks off on March 30th for Spencer and Molde, who will prepare for the upcoming season with seven friendlies; the first against AIK on January 27th.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Superliga (Denmark – First Division)
Maikon Orellana, F, Brondby IF: Orellana signed with Brondby IF on June 3rd, 2013. Orellana was plagued with a recurring injury in 2013, which limited his opportunities. Despite the setback, Orellana was named to the starting XI once and was twice brought on as a late substitute for the U-20 El Salvadorian national team at the 2013 World Cup in Turkey. Brondby IF is currently on winter break and will gear up for the remainder of the 2013-14 season with the first of seven friendies against FK Lokomotiv Tashkent on January 17th. Brondby IF returns to league play on February 23rd against AaB.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Bundesliga (Germany – First Division)
Kainoa Bailey, F, Bayer Leverkusen: Bailey officially joined Bayer Leverkusen on August 2nd, 2013, when he turned 18. Bailey was called into U.S. Soccer’s U-18 MNT European camp in 2013 and is currently on Bayer 04 Leverkusen II’s roster, which serves as a U-23 team and competes in the fourth-tier Regionalliga West. Bayer Leverkusen II is on winter break and has scheduled a friendly on January 22nd, while league play resumes on February 7th.
Season: 0 games, 0 starts
Ligue 1 (France – First Division)
Romain Gall, F, FC Lorient: Gall is FC Lorient’s U-19 team, which competes in the Championnat National U-19. Gall was called into U.S. Soccer’s U-18 MNT European camp in 2013. FC Lorient is on winter break and returns to league play on January 19th against Stade Laval U-19.
Season: 0 games, 0starts
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – GSA Exports is a feature in which we track the progress of former Grande Sports Academy players who are playing professionally. There are currently nine professional players in five different countries that have ties to the Grande Sports Academy. GSA Exports will track players who have been called up to national team duty and Real Salt Lake Reserve League matches.