CARSON, California - FC Dallas completed an historic US Soccer Development Academy National Championship double on Saturday in Carson, California wrapping up a combined 12-0-0 run for the U-16s and U-18s in the 2015 playoffs. Here's how it all went down:
U-18s come from behind for second-straight game to repeat as National Champions
The FC Dallas U18 Academy team were crowned champions of their age group with a 2-1 extra time victory over Vancouver U18 to win the US Soccer Development Academy Championship at Glenn “Mooch” Myernick field in Carson, California. Having won the U-16 National Championship last year, this team joins the New York Red Bulls as the only team to successfully defend a USSDA National Championship.
Vancouver came into the match on a 34-match unbeaten streak, and they opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a side-footed volley to the near post that just beat Ben Hale. Chances were far and few between for FC Dallas in the 1st half as Vancouver’s physical and organized style seemed to give them the upper hand.
Dallas regrouped at the half, and the field started to tilt in their favor. Devin Vega flashed a scorching shot wide of goal in the 60th, and the momentum was clearly in favor of the Red and White then. Shortly thereafter, Dallas saw both starking striker Giovanni Montesdeoca and starting goalkeeper Ben Hale both unable to continue.
Fortunately, Montesedeoca’s replacement Gustavo Lopez was up to the challenge. In the 81st minute, Toshiki Yasuda was able to fight off a foul in the corner. The advantage was played, and Yasuda picked out Lopez in the box. Lopez’s pullback to Vega was clean, and Vega made no mistake to tie the match late.
GOAL from @FCDallasYouth's #11 Devin Vega in the 81' to tie the U-17/18 Final, 1-1! #AcademyChampionshipspic.twitter.com/jS2oOIhUhJ
— U.S. Soccer Academy (@ussoccer_acad) July 17, 2016
Not to be outdone by Lopez, backup keeper Gerald Howard entered the match right before the goal was scored and showed little in the way of nerves in notching 3 safe-handed saves to keep Vancouver off the scoreboard for the rest of the game. Full time was reached with the score tied thanks to a brave save of Damian Hernandez’s point blank header in the last minute of stoppage time.
In the 2nd half of extra time, a 3rd substitute was introduced which was just as impactful as the first two. In the 106th minute, Juanito Ramirez converted Lopez’s 2nd assist of the match for the winner, and with a pro-FCD crowd that included the newly anointed U16 champs, made history by becoming the 1st academy team to repeat as champions.
That combined with the U16’s championship earlier in the night also marked the 1st time the U16 and U18 champions have come from the same club making this a date to remember in the annals of FC Dallas history.
FC Dallas U-16s defeat home team Galaxy to claim unprecedented back to back championship
This year’s version of the FC Dallas U-16 Academy team duplicated last year’s team’s success with a 2-0 victory over LA Galaxy U16 to win the US Soccer Development Academy Championship at Glenn “Mooch” Myernick field in Carson, California.
Fielding an almost identical lineup to the team who advanced from the semifinals against Chicago Fire U16 on Thursday, FCD U-16 attacked with high pressure and high tempo early and often. LA was able to break the pressure early with a 7th minute shot off the post. Cleared for an LA corner, Galaxy U-16 put a dangerous header on goal only for Jommar Reyes to clear the ball off the line.
Dallas immediately ratcheted up the pressure, and it quickly yielded the opener. A turnover in the Dallas end was quickly collected by man of the match Jesus Ferreira who sent a brilliant pass to the streaking Aldo Quevedo. Quevedo, seeing the keeper was out, produced a sumptuous chip that found the back of the net on 2 hops.
Dallas would have multiple opportunities to double the lead, and finally it was Ferrira, provider on the first, who delivered an amazing piece of individual skill to double the lead. In the 53rd minute, a long ball from Blake Willis found Ferreira who went left, right, then left again beating 2 defenders to deposit his 26th goal of the season with a delicate toe poke beyond the diving Galaxy keeper.
LA only managed one more shot on goal after the early flurry, and LA could not breakdown an opponent content to protect a 2 goal lead, and FC Dallas’s backline also played the offside trap to great effect on several occasions. With the exception of some chippiness towards the end, it was all smooth sailing as the U16s earned the trophy with their 24th victory of the year.
It was the second-straight year that FC Dallas has secured the U-16 US Soccer Development Academy, the first time one club has won the same age group in back to back years. It's also the second straight National Championship for this age group after winning the 2015 U-15 US Club Soccer NPL National Championship
With goals from Aldo Quevedo and Jesus Ferreira, the FC Dallas U-16s won their second-consecutive USSDA National Championship defeating the LA Galaxy 2-0.
In the nightcap, the FC Dallas U-18s defended their 2015 U-16 National Championship outlasting the Vancouver Whitecaps with Devin Vega scoring the game-tying goal late in the match and Juanito Ramirez scoring the game-winner deep into extra time to secure the National Championship.
