Images: A closer look in stop action at a high-energy U.S. Futsal Championships match between Sporting Juniors U-16 and the Blue Valley Soccer Club

Sporting Juniors, in the dark jerseys, took on a team from Blue Valley Soccer Club at the U.S. Youth Futsal Nationals in Kansas City. (Photos by David Knopf|Futsal World)

When two teams of aggressive, skillful high school boys match up, the challenge is to find space and play with finesse and composure.

But sometimes, sheer athletic ability and commitment, as in this fully extended tackle, can save the day.

At halftime, Academy Director and U-16 Sporting Juniors Coach Jon Parry (center, on touchline) showed his team how he wanted them to space themselves and play more of a rotating passing game, almost a weave.

Sporting Juniors had more of the offense in their 4-1 win, but BVSC kept the Academy team's scoring down with a stout defense. When Blue Valley did manage to break through for a shot itself, the Juniors' keeper came up big on several occasions.

With space at a premium, an imaginative, smaller player like Sporting's Seo-in Kim used his quickness and skill to put pressure on opponents.

But when three defenders close in, even a crafty player like Kim needs to find the open teammate and move into space for a return pass.