Union Academy duo named to U-18 roster for Copa Chivas Tournament

Philadelphia Union Academy duo Sebastian Elney and Sean Wilson can add Mexico to their travel plans after the United States Under-18 men’s national team head coach Javier Perez named both to his twenty player roster for the 2015 Copa Chivas Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Both were also recently named (along with Academy teammate Andrew Verdi) to the senior team's preseason camp roster so they'll be missing the open practice at YSC on Friday to participate in the tournament being held January 30 to February 7.

The U.S. opens Group A stage play against Monarcas Morelia (Mexico) Friday at 1 p.m., faces Cruzeiro Esporte Clube (Brazil) on Saturday at 10 a.m., Club Tijuana (Mexico) on February 2 at 10 a.m. and Club Deportivo Universidad Católica (Chile) at 10 a.m. on February 3.

The U.S. U-18s are one of only two youth international squads in the tournament and one of two U.S.-based teams. In all, there are three groups of five teams. Group B includes Mexico’s U-17 national team, Boca Juniors (Argentina), Rayados Monterrey (Mexico), River Plate (Argentina) and Tigres (Mexico). Group C has FC Dallas, Atlas (Mexico), Atlético Paranaense (Brazil), Chivas Guadalajara (Mexico) and Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan).

The top eight seeds in the tournament advance to the quarterfinal stage on February 5, followed by the semifinals on February 6 and the title game on February 7.

Elney, 17, joined the residency program in September from Boca United in his native Florida. He's started eight games for the U-18s and scored three goals. He's verbally committed to playing college soccer at Maryland.

Wilson, 17, has started in all 11 of his appearances for the U-18 team this year. The West Chester native played with the U-15/U-16 team last season and for the Players Development Academy U-15/U-16 team the three seasons prior.

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

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