The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, the most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States, concluded today with River Plate besting the U.S. U20 National Team in the rematch of the opening day contest. Also decided were the champions of the U17, Super 17’s, and U19 age groups. Including yesterday’s final matches, the eight Dr Pepper Dallas Cup age group Champions are represented by five countries; USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Argentina.
Gordon Jago Super Group
The final game of Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXV, was a rematch of last Sunday’s opening day marquee game, which saw the U.S. Men’s U20 National Team come from behind to defeat River Plate. This time it was the motivated club from Buenos Aires who scored first, when Lucas Boye’s determined effort resulted in a goal. A pair of weather delays forced the teams to seek shelter at halftime and again in the 65th minute. With the U.S. pressing for the tying goal, Boye made his presence felt again in the 83rd minute when he found a way to get a shot off in between three U.S. defenders and sealed the 2-0 victory for River Plate. The Argentines were able to hold off the U.S. U20’s for the final minutes of the match and were justly crowned the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXV Gordon Jago Super Group Champions.
Under 19
The Costa Rican Under-19 National Team defeated Liverpool FC Foundation College to win the U19 Championship, 1-0. The Costa Ricans set the tone throughout the game, and could have scored more if not for a well-organized Liverpool defense. The goal came in the 24th minute when Costa Rica forward, Jeffry Montenegro, was able to poke a loose ball across the goal line for the game’s only goal. Liverpool FC battled hard to keep it close, and took their chances on counter-attacks and set-pieces, but was unable to find the back of the net.
Super 17’s
The Super 17’s, created this year in celebration of Dallas Cup’s 35th anniversary, featured two Mexican sides, Club America and CF Monterrey, vying for the inaugural championship. Club America scored first in the 33rd minute as Eduarth Soria’s searching cross into the box skipped past the screened Rayados goalkeeper and into the net for a 1-0 lead. A breakaway six minutes later and rocket of a shot in the 58th increased America’s lead to 3-0. Monterrey was able to get a consolation goal in the 80th minute, but it was not enough as Club America lifted the first Super 17’s trophy.
Under 17
This game guaranteed a local champion would be crowned as FC Dallas Premier met a familiar foe in FC Dallas Gold. After a scoreless first half, FC Dallas Gold started the second half with two goals four minutes apart. Osvaldo Veloz put away a 56th minute penalty kick and, in what could be the goal of the Championship weekend, Dominick Faletto’s nifty bicycle kick in the 60th minute gave FC Dallas Gold a 2-0 lead. FC Dallas Premier’s Sergio Lara scored from the penalty kick spot in the 66th minute, but FC Dallas Gold answered with a first-time shot from Cisse Abdoulaye in the 80th to make things 3-1. Things got interesting when FC Dallas Gold suffered an own goal in stoppage time. FC Dallas Premier’s final desperation cross into the box found its mark, but was redirected right at Gold’s keeper, to keep the score line 3-2 in favor of FC Dallas Gold.
Under 16
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.
Under 15
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.
Under 14
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.
Under 13
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.
Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXVI will be March 29 through April 5, 2015.
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