The storm may have hit Frisco on Wednesday afternoon, but FC Dallas U-15/16 Academy was able to provide enough shine for the day.
The U-16s eased past Beachside SC 6-0 in the quarterfinals of the US Development Academy playoffs on Wednesday at Toyota Soccer Center Field #9.
In a 20-minute span during the first half, FC Dallas put on a goal-scoring highlight reel, netting all six goals of the game in that span to punch its ticket to the semifinals in California.
“I think they executed the game plan early on,” FC Dallas U-16 Academy head coach Luchi Gonzalez said. “We wanted to press, be aggressive [and] let them know we’re playing at our home. I felt the boys from the warm-up all the way until kickoff were ready. They showed that mentality and attitude to compete and show intensity and aggressiveness early.”
Adrian Ramos opened the scoring in the 14th minute after FCD swung it around the box after Toshiki Yasuda originally sent the ball in from the right flank. Yasuda provided the ball for Weston McKennie to double the lead three minutes later with an off-balanced shot from the top of the box.
McKennie almost found the back of the net again in the 22nd minute, but a Beachside save laid the ball off for Giovanni Montesdeoca to punch it in to make it 3-0. Devin Vega made it 4-0 when he took the ball down the left side and dribbled it into the box before slotting it home to the bottom-right side of the net in the 26th minute. In the next minute, Montesdeoca scored his second of the day.
Yasuda, who had control of the right flank the entire game, intercepted a pass in the 34th minute, settling the ball with his chest and taking it straight into the box and into the corner of the goal.
“I just think it was a great team performance today,” Montesdeoca said. “We all fought, and we all wanted it. We were just all connected today. We believed every single bit of the game.”
FC Dallas goalkeeper Ben Hale and his defense had a scare toward the end of the first half when a Beachside SC corner led to an open header smacking the crossbar before being cleared.
“It came from being disorganized,” Hale said. “That’s something that we learn from. That won’t happen again.”
Hale was called to make a save in the second half when a Beachside shot made him dive back and send a ball over the bar. The FCD backline kept its clean sheet though and remain without conceding a goal in playoffs.
Although his team was able to have a dominant 6-0 victory, Gonzalez said his team is hungry to continue to peak as they head into the semifinals.
“I think this group has some unfinished business,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t think they are just happy to be there. I think they want to compete to win it all. They’re independent; they empower themselves. They’re going to keep training Monday through Friday to compete at LA. We’re excited.”
FCD awaits the other quarterfinal results today. After the quarterfinals are complete, the teams will reseed before playing July 16-18 in Carson, California.
