Another glory: 2 Right to Dream graduates win US Youth Soccer Cup

Right to Dream Academy have again been congratulating another pair of graduates of the renowned football academy based at Old Akrade in the Eastern Regions after Geoffrey Kofi Acheampong IV and Abu Danladi powered the Santa Barbara Soccer Club win the US Youth Soccer National Championships at the weekend.

Acheampong, captain of Santa Barbara Soccer Club's U-18s, was first to put his side in front as they blanked Lehigh Valley United 3-0 in the final when the speedy Abu Danladi was upended by the goalkeeper as he ran onto a beautiful long ball from Acheampong in the box. Acheampong stepped up and converted the PK for a 1-0 lead.

So it stood till halftime with when Miguel Pardon made it 2-0 for Santa Barbara after 57 minutes but UCLA-bound Danladi who had been nursing an injury and was making his tournament debut, again stole the headlines with the best goal of the day.

The Gatorade National Player of the Year, scored the third goal after intercepting the ball from an opponent, beat two defenders and the goalkeeper before cooly slotting the ball home to round up the comprehensive victory over Lehigh Valley, A team Santa Barbara had lost to in the group phase.

'Thank you to everyone who made such an amazing journey possible. To the coaches and teammates congrats on clinching our first national title,' Geoffrey Acheampong wrote on his Facebook page later on.

'To the amazing families and friends, I would like to say a big thank you on behalf of my teammates for the support and love you've rendered this group throughout the campaign, we couldn't have done it without you. Well done guys, let's now go get the 'granddaddy of them all.' The big boy McGuire Cup,' he added.