When FC Dallas’ U-16s headed to California for the US Soccer Development Academy semifinals, head coach Luchi Gonzalez said his team was going in hungry.
A semifinal and final match later, his team is coming back champions.
The U-16s claimed the Development Academy National Championship in a dominating 4-0 win against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday at the Stub Hub Center Field 1 in Carson, California.
It took 11 minutes for FCD to jump on the board as midfielder Weston McKinnie leaped to forward Giovanni Montesdeoca’s cross from the right side. His header gave the U-16s a 1-0 lead, and all Dallas had to do from there was hold it.
FCD did just that but not without adding three more.
Montesdeoca added a goal of his own in the 31st minute when he slipped past the Red Bulls’ backline. New York’s keeper put a hand to it, but it wasn’t enough to put FCD up 2-0. Montesdeoca nearly made it 3-0 before the half ended when his free kick right at the 18-yard-box smacked the woodwork.
Gonzalez’s side started the second half right where the team left off as Central Conference Player of the Year Devin Vega hammered one home to make it 3-0 thirty seconds into the period.
NYRB took over possession and applied pressure, but goalkeeper Ben Hale and his FCD defense held the clean sheet to finish the Development Playoffs without conceding a goal.
In the last minute of regulation, Juan Ramirez put the nail in the coffin with a goal slipped into the left side of the net to make it 4-0 and further secure the championship for FCD.
Dallas finished the championship season 25-3-5 scoring 86 goals and giving up 28.
