After four seasons in the minor leagues of American soccer — three seasons in the USL Championship and one in MLS Next Pro — ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC midfielder Akil Watts finally made it to Major League Soccer on Saturday, appearing in his first game.
“It was great, a great experience,†Watts said Tuesday, “something I’ve been waiting for. It was intense coming into a game that’s tied. It felt good. I’m glad he trusted me to come in at that time.â€
Watts, 23, came into the game in the 72nd minute with the score tied 1-1. Three minutes later, Kyle Hiebert, his former teammate with City2, the club’s development team, headed in a free kick from Eduard Lowen for the game-winner.
“He’s worked with us for a year now,†said City SC coach Bradley Carnell, “and Akil has had some great experiences, playing in the U-17 World Cup. People ask why has it taken so long with him. Maybe there’s people who believe in him here, (assistant coach) John Hackworth first and foremost. So we believe in him. Akil needs to release the handbrake on himself I believe sometimes, he needs to believe in himself more and play like he believes. Sometimes you see Akil just go through the motions. He’s doing his job, but is he standing out? For me, he was just blending in and a lot of the times I want to make sure that he stands out to his abilities. He scored important goals last year for City2. He can shoot from range, he can defend one v. one really well, he can play right back, he can play center back. He can play a (holding midfielder), so he’s got to believe in himself first and foremost and have the confidence because we believe in all our young players. We believe in everybody here so it’s exciting that he got on the field too.â€
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For Watts, this was just the first step. What’s next?
“Keep pushing hard and going for more minutes,†he said.
Lucas Bartlett’s beginning
Also making his MLS debut on Saturday was defender Lucas Bartlett, who had been in camp with the team on a trial basis and signed with the club last week. He came on in the 86th minute for John Nelson as the team was closing out its win.
“We knew they were starting to venture up the field, and normally, they’ll throw a defender up with their big guys,†Carnell said, “so how do we counter that? Lucas is an aerial bull terrier and wins a lot duals. He did exactly that. He came on the field and played some progressive passes through the lines, which was really good. He was brave and talks and delegates and communicates.â€
Bartlett, who’s 6 feet, 3 inches, grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, and played collegiately at Loyola (Chicago), Drake and St. John’s. He was taken by Dallas with the sixth pick in the 2022 draft but never got in a game. Dallas did not pick up his option after the season.
“I had a falling out with FC Dallas, and I knew John Hackworth before I came here,†Bartlett said. “He had seen me when I played in the playoffs last year with North Texas. So they had contacted me in the offseason, and they asked me if I wanted to come in with nothing guaranteed and an opportunity to earn something. It was a great opportunity I didn’t want to turn away. I’m just super happy.
“I had a lot of belief in myself this season like I knew I didn’t get a great chance last year in Dallas. I knew that I had something to prove here, so I came out with the mindset I had nothing to lose and everything to gain so it’s how I took it. And working every day in the offseason, I knew I’d have one opportunity and I took advantage of it.â€
“He fits in really well as a person, he fits in as a player, and we just felt we might need a little bit of depth down the line here,†Carnell said. “He kind of arrived by chance on the doorstep and presented himself really well, and we’re not going to let good people go. He really fits in with the team and what we’re doing.â€
Njabulo Blom still out
Midfielder Njabulo Blom, who missed the Portland game because he was sick, was still not practicing Tuesday. Carnell said Blom was working on his own but hadn’t been cleared to return to practice.
“He feels great,†Carnell said. “We just have to keep him away at the moment.â€
Jonathan Bell, recovering from hernia surgery, played for City2 in its preseason game against SLU on Friday and went the full 90 minutes. “It’s encouraging,†Carnell said. Bell practiced with City on Tuesday, but midfielder Isak Jensen, who also played the full game against SLU, didn’t; Carnell said he’s sick.
With two midfielders out, joining the team for the first time this season on Tuesday was midfielder Max Schneider, who is on loan to City2 for the season.
“Max is part of our group, so there is no reason we wouldn’t want him with us,†Carnell said.