The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXV Gordon Jago Super Group Final will be a rematch of the hotly contested match between the US National U20 team and River Plate of Argentina. In the marquee game of the tournament’s opening day, Tab Ramos’ USA side prevailed 3-2. Despite losing to the Americans, River Plate earned a spot in the Gordon Jago semi-finals by finishing as the best second place team thanks to victories over Tigres (1-0) and Eintracht Frankfurt (7-0) in group play. Demonstrating a combination of finesse and tactical awareness the River Plate academy is known for, the Argentinians defeated a highly favored Coritiba side 2-0. In the other semi-final match, the U.S. U20 National Team defeated Fluminese 3-2 in overtime. The Yanks got off to a quick 2-0 start, before the Brazilians started chipping away, eventually tying the game in the 93^rd minute. But it was a penalty kick goal scored by Rubio Rubin in the 12^th minute of overtime that put the US team out in front for good.

The Super Group Championship match will be played on Sunday, April 20^th at the Cotton Bowl, and will be televised nationally on Time Warner Sports Channel and Time Warner Deportes. It will also be broadcast on radio on ESPN Deportes Dallas 1540 AM and deportesdallas.com. For ticket information, please visit dallascup.com.

Action continues Sunday as four more champions will be determined

The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, the most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States, awarded the iconic Boot and Ball trophy to the Champions of the U13, U14, U15, and U16 age groups today. 

Chivas USA met TSC Hurricanes from Oklahoma for the right to wear the U13 Dr Pepper Dallas Cup crown.  Throughout most of the first half, Chivas USA had the better run of the play, but was held scoreless with the help of a sturdy crossbar and fantastic goalkeeping from TSC Hurricane Christian Chavez. It took a 31st minute wonder strike from Chivas USA’s Misael Becerra, to get the game’s only goal. TSC Hurricanes managed to withstand the Chivas onslaughts throughout the rest of the game but was unable to find the back of the net themselves.

The U14 Championship was a tight match that was decided in overtime.  Duncanville’s Wizards FC took on the tough Club Menedy from Guatemala.  Menedy’s Alberto Esmenjaud opened the scoring in the 25th minute as his hard shot slipped underneath the keeper’s arms, but the Wizards were able to equalize just six minutes later.  Although Menedy controlled the run of play throughout the game, they found themselves tied 1-1 at the end of regulation.  In overtime, a defensive lapse led to a breakaway goal, and in the last minute of overtime Menedy was able to score again to seal the victory, 3-1.

Tigres UANL of Mexico took on LVSA ’99 Red from Nevada in the U15 Final.  Tigres started strongly and made LVSA goalkeeper Phillip Starcher, come up with several acrobatic saves to keep the game scoreless. Tigres went ahead in the 13th minute when a cross deflected off a LVSA defender and towards his goal.  While Starcher initially appeared to make another outstanding save, the ball was judged to have fully crossed the line by the Assistant Referee. Tigres kept up the pressure throughout the entire first half and scored twice more for a 3-0 halftime lead on their way to a 5-0 shutout victory.

The final match of the day was local side FC Dallas Premier taking on Juventus SC Heat from Northern California for the U16 Championship. FC Dallas found themselves up 2-0 at halftime, despite being outshot 10 to 5.  It seemed that FC Dallas would be able to absorb Juventus’ pressure and hold on for the victory, but that changed in the 62 minute when David Ramos found himself on a breakaway and was able to get a goal back.  The goal lifted Juventus’ sprits and three minutes later Ramos struck again to send the game to overtime.  The game was evenly played throughout overtime with both teams having several good chances.  But with five minutes left, Steven Orozco drilled home a screamer that the left the FC Dallas keeper with no chance to keep it out.  The final result was a 3-2, come from behind victory.

Championship weekend continues on Sunday with the U17, Super 17’s, U19, and Gordon Jago Super Group Finals.  Tickets for these matches are available at www.dallascup.com

Tickets can be purchased here 

Dr Pepper Dallas Cup announced today that tickets for its stadium games are now on sale and can be purchased at dallascup.com. The prestigious international youth soccer tournament, celebrating its 35^th anniversary in 2014, will run from Sunday, April 13 through Sunday, April 20. 

All stadium games will be played at the historic Cotton Bowl, which recently completed a $25 million renovation.  Guests will notice the changes as soon as they enter through the newly refurbished main entrance.  Once inside, spectators will enjoy expanded concourses, improved concession areas, new restroom facilities, and added video displays on the concourse and inside the stadium. 

Single event tickets range from $15 for adults to $5 for kids.  Discounted week-long tournament passes for all five Cotton Bowl match days start at only $50 for adults, $20 for kids.  Additional games will be played throughout the week, free of charge, at the Classic League Soccer Complex at Richland College and the new Elm Fork Athletic Complex in Northwest Dallas. 

The first of three exciting Gordon Jago Super Group matches will take place at 12:30pm on opening day.  Games will continue at 3:00pm, and the marquee game will kick off at 6:30pm. The annual “Welcome World Opening Ceremonies”, featuring all Dr Pepper Dallas Cup teams, will start at 5:00pm and will take place on the Cotton Bowl field.

Stadium games will continue with a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 16 at 5:00pm and 7:30pm. “Championship Weekend” will kick off at the Cotton Bowl on Friday, April 18 with the Gordon Jago Super Group semifinals taking place at 5:00pm and 7:30pm.  Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20 will see the championship games of all age groups taking place on the stadium field. The final match of Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXV will be the Gordon Jago Super Group final which will kick off at 6:00pm on Sunday. A full stadium game schedule, with matchups, will be released in the coming days.

In celebration of the 35^th anniversary tournament, the Gordon Jago Super Group consists of one of the strongest line ups ever, with over half of the participating clubs having previously won Dallas Cup Championships.  The twelve clubs, representing eight different countries, are:

Argentina

River Plate

Belgium

Anderlecht

Brazil

Fluminense F.C.

Coritiba – 2012 Gordon Jago Super Champion

England

Fulham F.C. – 2013 Gordon Jago Super Champion

Germany

Eintracht Frankfurt – 2011 Gordon Jago Super Co-Champion

Mexico

CD Guadalajara (Chivas) – 2008 U14 Champion

UANL Tigres – 2011 Gordon Jago Super Co-Champion

Sweden

IF Brommapojkarna – 2013 U19 Champion

United States

U.S. U20 Men’s National Team

FC Dallas Academy – 2011 U15 Champion

LA Galaxy Academy

(Note: most recent Championship is listed)

Checkout our Photos from our Dallas Cup Photographers

Dallas Cup Facebook

A crowd approaching 18,000 turned out on Opening Day to watch the triple-header at the Cotton Bowl.

Emmerson Hyndman earns a PK late in the first half after being fouled by a FC Dallas Defender.  The converted penalty by Moussa Dembele completed his first half hat trick and helped bring the Cottagers a 4-0 victory in Match Day 1 action.

Fluminense Captain, Ikaro Mychell Maia, holds off two Chivas Guadalajara defenders.  The teams ended up with a 1-1 draw when Fluminense's Ailton Silva scored in the 70th minute.

River Plate celebrate a 1st half goal.  They would take a 2-1 lead into halftime but would eventually fall 3-2, when, in stoppage time, their would-be tying goal was judged to be off side.

photo by Dante Ibanez

Dr Pepper Dallas Cup Pre-Tournament News and Notes

• Game Notes for Opening Day Super Group games at the Cotton Bowl

FC Dallas vs. FC Fulham at 12:30pm:

Of note: Fulham, reigning U18 Premier League Champion, returns to Dallas to defend their 2013 Gordon Jago Super Group title. Cottager midfielder Emerson Hyndman, a three-time Dallas Cup champion and Dallas native, will be facing his former team, FC Dallas.

Keep an eye on:

• Aaron Meyers – Solid, consistent defensive midfielder who participated this year in spring training in Florida with the senior team (FC Dallas)
• Moussa Dembele – Dangerous target forward with Didier Drogba-like potential (Fulham FC)
• Emerson Hyndman – U.S. Youth National Team and former FC Dallas Academy player, among the top prospects in the Fulham youth system

CD Guadalajara vs. Fluminense FC at 3:00pm:

Of note: Fluminense, one of the pre-tournament favorites, advanced to the semi-finals of the 2013 Dallas Cup before being eliminated by eventual Champion Fulham in penalty kicks. The Brazil vs. Mexico matchup will mirror the upcoming FIFA World Cup Group A game.

Keep an eye on:

• Daniel Rios – Mexico U20 National Team. Strong Target Forward (Chivas).
• Euller Rodrigues (Fluminense FC) – Speedy winger. Often plays with the Fluminense reserve roster.

                             CA River Plate vs. U.S. Men’s U20 Team at 6:30pm:

Of note:  Both River Plate and the US National Teams have produced MLS stars.  Of the 22 players on the U.S. U20 Team, 16 are professional players and 8 play in MLS.

Keep an eye on:

• Juan Cruz Kaprof and Matías Santiago Sánchez – Regular first team reserve players and Argentine U20 National Team Players. (River Plate)
• Kellyn Acosta – 18 year old starting right back for Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas. (US Men’s U20)
• Lynden Gooch – English Club Sunderland FC Academy U18 Player, having a breakout season. (US Men’s U20)

• The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup is respected throughout the world as one of the most elite tournament across the globe. Joining over 200 college scouts, several international scouts from some of the biggest teams in Europe and South America will travel to Dallas this week in hopes of finding their team’s next superstar.  Scouts from the most important clubs in England, France, The Netherlands, Argentina, Mexico, and U.S.A’s Major League Soccer will be on hand to scout games from all age groups. 

• The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup is pleased to announce that a free internet stream will be made available on dallascup.com for the Fluminense (BRA) vs. LA Galaxy (USA) game at 12:00pm on Monday, April 14^th. Later that same day, River Plate (ARG) vs. Tigres UANL (MEX) will be available.

• Two former MLS All-Stars, Dante Washington (Dallas, Columbus) and Diego Gutierrez (KC, Chicago), will participate in this year’s Opening Ceremonies, scheduled to begin on Sunday at 5:00pm at the Cotton Bowl. The Opening Ceremonies will be led by the Adamson High School Marching Band from DISD and the Jesuit Rangerettes Drill Team.

• Reigning MLS Player of the Month, FC Dallas’ Mauro Diaz, will be recognized during the coin toss of Sunday’s marquee matchup of Argentina’s River Plate vs. the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team at 6:30pm. It will be a homecoming for Diaz, 23, who grew up playing in River Plate’s youth system and is scheduled to greet the team before the day’s match.

• In addition to Diaz, throughout the years, several high-profile MLS players have come through River Plate before landing with a MLS club, including: Juan Pablo Angel, Dario Sala, Pablo Ricchetti, Ferderico Higuain, and Juan Toja.

• The Dallas Cup reach is truly global, as over 250 referees from 29 countries covering six continents will come to Dallas to officiate games during the tournament’s eight days.