Two Bridges vs NYCFC Academy A Weekend to Remember
This past Father’s Day weekend, our U19 and U17 teams faced off against one of the nation’s elite youth programs, New York City FC Academy. Just getting to the field took coordination and effort with rides arranged from Queens and the Bronx, but once the whistle blew, it all became an afterthought. We came to compete, we came to show what we’re made of.
The U19 match kicked off at full throttle. For the first 15 minutes it was a war of wills 0-0 on the scoreboard but bursting with intensity, shoulder-to-shoulder clashes, crunching tackles and nonstop effort defined the opening stretch, both sides were fighting for every inch refusing to back down, then came the breakthrough a moment of clarity in the chaos, we struck first and went into halftime up 1-0.
In the locker room, Coach Max told the boys “You’ve worked so hard to get here. You have nothing to lose, go out there, stay united, and show that every effort, every sacrifice shaped who we are and what we’re capable of.”
And that’s exactly what they did, but NOT by playing it safe. Instead of protecting the lead, they stepped up with confidence. They pressed high, moved the ball with intent, and brought energy to every play with three more goals to follow. Moments before the final whistle, NYCFC pulled one back on a penalty kick. By then the tone was clear, Two Bridges can rise to any challenge.
Our U17s faced their own uphill battle, down 2-0 in the first half, the outlook looked tough but at halftime the message was clear.
Only the disciplined, the focused and the battle-tested can turn the tide in a match like this.
Fueled by grit, skill, and relentless heart, they fought back. play by play, possession by possession, they battled with everything they had and clawed their way to a 3-3 draw that felt like a win.
After the game, one of the referees walked over to me and said something I won’t forget.
We’ve heard about your no-pay-to-play club. I don’t know how you make it work, but it shows you can. This is what the beautiful game is supposed to look like. This is how it’s done in Brazil, Portugal, France, and everywhere else in the world…everyone plays, and if you’ve got talent, you rise.
It wasn’t just a compliment, it was a recognition, a moment of truth from someone who’s seen it all. He wasn’t alone; in fact, the entire officiating crew huddled and agreed that what they witnessed wasn’t just good football, it was the game in its purest form.
It didn’t stop there, after the final whistle NYCFC’s coaching staff approached Coach Max not with routine handshakes, but with real interest. They asked about a few of our players. They saw what we already know: there’s talent here that can easily be overlooked. Conversations like these can lead to tryouts, and tryouts can change everything.
This is what we’re building at Two Bridges FC
Yes we compete at a high level, but we’re about so much more. Our players receive academic tutoring, SAT prep, and college guidance through our collaboration with Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island. We are developing student-athletes who grow on the field and in the classroom.
Thanks to your support, whether through the recent fundraising gala or individual donations, we’ve come this far with you. No,w as we prepare to launch two new younger teams, U15 and U16 we need your help more than ever for all of the coaching, equipment, travel, tournament fees, tutoring, field permits in NYC, and so much more… it all adds up, but so does your generosity.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your contribution makes a difference, look no further than this weekend, look at the scoreline, look at the opportunities unfolding, look at what happens when talent is given a chance.
We are not here just to survive; we are here to leave an unforgettable legacy, together.
by Mike Mansfield