El-Hadj Cisse scored in the second half as adiTunit tied adidas Trofeo 1-1 in the first game of Sunday's second day of action at the adidas MLS Player Combine at Lockhart Stadium.
David Roth, a 5-foot-8 midfielder and the first All-American in Northwestern University history, opened the scoring for Trofeo in the 34th minute. Running from the left wing, he took a pass from Eric Avila (University of California-Santa Barbara) and chipped it past goalkeeper Casey Latchem (Ohio State University), who had no chance to stop the point-blank shot.
Cisse countered in the 53rd minute, showing some dazzling footwork to shake free for his 18-yard blast into the right corner, beating 'keeper Matt Allen (Creighton University).
Cisse, who starred at North Carolina State, would love to emulate his close friend, Bakary Soumare of the Chicago Fire. The two met while attending LaSalle Academy in New York City. Soumare, who is from Mali, was the No. 2 pick overall in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft.
Of course, at 6-foot-4, Soumare is five inches taller than Cisse. Soumare, who started 11 games as a rookie midfielder, was also Cisse's rival in the Atlantic Coast Conference, playing for Virginia.
GAME TWO BECOMES A ROUT: After a scoreless first half, adiPure routed Predator PowerServe 4-0 in Sunday's second game.
Santa Clara forward Peter Lowry opened the scoring with a goal in the 60th minute on an assist from Alex Nimo (U.S. U-18/Generation adidas). The same two players combined in identical fashion in the 67th minute.
Furman defender Jonathan Leathers scored unassisted in the 72nd minute, knocking the ball past Stanford's Andrew Kartunen, who replaced Dominic Cervi to start the second half in goal. Predator PowerServe was victimized by an own goal from Corey Sipos of Akron two minutes later.
SEARCHING FOR DIAMONDS: MLS teams are looking hard for the next Wells Thompson or John Cunliffe. Both parlayed strong performance's in last year's MLS Combine to earn first-round selections in the draft.
Thompson, an All-ACC midfielder from Wake Forest, was a surprise choice at No. 5 to New England. The highest-drafted player in the history of Wake's program, Thompson went on to start 11 games as a MLS rookie, earning a starting role on the flank by season's end for the Eastern Conference champions.
Cunliffe, a virtual unknown before last year's combine, was the No. 7 pick, going to Chivas USA, where the forward started five games as a rookie and scored three goals. A native of Bolton, England, he played his college ball at Division II Fort Lewis College, located in Durango, Colo.
One player who has apparently elevated his draft status in this year's combine is Wake Forest goalie Brian Edwards, who has posted shutouts on each of the first two days of the combine.
Midfielder Jonathan Sabbatini, even more unknown than Cunliffe was at this time last year, has impressed so far. The Uruguayan native nearly had a goal in the 47th minute Sunday, blasting a shot off the right post.
Argentinian defender Lucas Fernandez, along with Sabbatini among three South Americans invited to take part in the combine, has shown quick feet. But one MLS team observer said Fernandez has also raised eyebrows in some quarters after yelling at teammates in Saturday's game.
Several players who already had solid reputations are off to good starts at the combine, including midfielders Avila and Nimo, defenders Julius James (Connecticut), Andy Iro (UCSB), Patrick Phelan (Wake Forest), and midfielder Brek Shea and goalkeeper Josh Lambo, both of whom are U.S. youth national teamers and part of the Generation adidas program.
COMBINE NOTES:
• With the combine being held in Florida again this year, there are two local products hoping to impress. Midfielder Keith Savage, who is from Gulf Breeze, Fla., played his college ball at West Florida, scoring 47 goals and adding 25 assists in his four-year career.
Midfielder Scott Campbell is even more local, playing his high school ball in the same same county where the combine is being held. Campbell, who went to South Plantation High and played club ball for the Weston Fury, went to the University of North Carolina.
• After a sunny opening day, there was some rain on Sunday, which cooled off the players. But the conditions also led to some precarious situations for the goalkeepers, who had to field the wet ball.
Walter Villa is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
