On Sunday night at the Toyota Soccer Center, FC Dallas U-16 and U-18 Academy teams completed a perfect 6-0-0 week to advance to the quarterfinals of the US Soccer Development Academy Playoffs. FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake are the only two academy teams in the country to advance both teams and FCD will host national quarterfinals on either July 6th or 7th with more info to come. Here's how the games went down:
U-18s roll over Orlando City in decisive group stage match
FRISCO - The U-18s needed a win or a draw to keep their playoff hopes alive against Orlando City and keep hope alive of a back-to-back national championship run. They left no doubt about it rolling to a 5-0 win over their MLS counterparts.
FCD got off to the best possible start when center back Brandon Terwege followed up a rebound to score in the 11th minute giving FCD a 1-0 lead that took much of the pressure off.
Late in the first half Weston McKinnie's header forced Orlando City into an own goal in the 40th minute giving Dallas a 2-0 lead somewhat against the run of play that all but killed off the match.
In the second half, Giovanni Montesdeoca unleashed a wicked volley in the 53rd minute to put the U-18s up 3-0 and they went on to add tallies from Devin Vega and another from Montesdeoca late to secure the 5-0 win.
With the win, FCD moves on to the national quarterfinals where they will host Sporting Kansas City either on July 6th or 7th.
U-16s complete perfect group stage
FRISCO - The FC Dallas U-16 Academy team punched their ticket to the USSDA Playoff Quarterfinals on Sunday evening with a 3-1 win over the Capital Area Railhawks’ U-16 side.
After several chances to open the scoring in the first 30 minutes, it was Jommar Reyes who struck for the U-16s with a bending free kick just 22 yards from goal in the 35th minute.
Just four minutes later, it was leading-scorer Jesus Ferreira who got in on the action. The Railhawk goalkeeper came off his line trying to beat Ferreira to a ball at the edge of the penalty area, but the 14-year-old forward delivered a perfect touch as he chipped the ball over the diving goalie and into the net.
Capital Area almost got on the board just before half, as FCD goalkeeper Carlos Avilez corralled a ball inside the 18, but lost grip as he went to ground. The loose ball rolled to the Railhawks’ striker, who from his back kicked a shot towards the open Dallas goal, but defender Mark Salas made a goal-line clearance to preserve the two-goal lead.
35' > JOMMAR REYES!!!! 1-0 FCD! pic.twitter.com/ABrcxJnBjW
— FC Dallas Youth (@FCDallasYouth) June 26, 2016
In the second half, the 16s pushed their lead to 3-0, as 6-foot-2 forward Bryan Reynolds connected on a header from the goal mouth in the 48th minute, making due for a missed opportunity on a similar play earlier in the match that went off the post.
The Railhawks did get on the board in the 52nd when the visitor’s striker found himself with space inside the penalty area and sent a strike into the top left corner, past the outstretch arms of a diving Avilez in goal. It was the first goal allowed by FCD in almost 7 games dating back to April 30, and the only one they allowed in the group stage.
Dallas will now host a Quarterfinal match on July 6 or 7 once seedings are determined from the eight group winners in the 16s bracket. The FCD U-16 side is looking to become the first back-to-back national champions for any age group in USSDA history after the club took home the 2015 U-16 National Championship.