GA Cup qualifying wraps up

GA Cup qualifying wraps up
by J.R. Eskilson
February 19, 2019

CARSON, California - The field is set for the U17 Champions Division at the 2019 Generation adidas Cup.

New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, FC Dallas, Toronto FC, Montreal Impact, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders, and LA Galaxy qualified for the U17 Champions Division at the 2019 Generation adidas Cup Finals. 

LAFC, Philadelphia Union, New York Red Bulls, and Toronto FC qualified for the U15 Ryder Cup at the 2019 Generation adidas Cup Finals. The four MLS academies will take on four Liga MX academies at the event in Texas. 

San Jose Earthquakes U17 3-2 Vancouver Whitecaps U17

With both teams already eliminated from advancing heading into the day, there was not much on the line beside pride. However, the San Jose Earthquakes trotted out a strong roster that featured two Homegrown signings and a U.S. Youth International. 

The quality showed early when Earthquakes center back Casey Walls scored the opening goal on a header off a corner kick in the first half. 

The Whitecaps answered back with a pair of goals from forward Kamron Habibullah. The first one came on a fantastic chip when Habibullah got behind the San Jose defense and then delicately chipped his shot over the goalkeeper and into the goal for the equalizer. 

He scored his second goal of the first half minutes later. Vancouver drew a free kick about 25 yards. The Caps caught San Jose off guard with a short set piece to Habibullah who was gifted plenty of time to pick his corner and net his second goal of the game. 

San Jose equalized in the second half when Gilbert Fuentes put a free kick from 35 yards out into the box. The set piece took a bounce before Walls nodded the ball over the goalkeeper for his second goal of the game. 

Salvador Aguilar Miranda scored the game-winner. Quakes forward Cade Cowell broke down the right flank before hitting a low cross into the center of the six-yard box. The ball fell to Miranda who tucked it away to give San Jose the 3-2 win. 

San Jose Earthquakes XI: Anthony Guevara; Luca Mandarelli, Joshua Ramirez, Casey Walls, Joel Garcia; Tarun Karumanchi, Jordan Korbus, Gilbert Fuentes; Nico Flores, Cade Cowell, Sergio Ladezma Vazquez 

Vancouver Whitecaps XI: Ben Alexander; Naseeb Bains, Dino Hajdarpasic, Gianfranco Facchineri, Jaden Manetta; Damiano Pecile, Emilliano Brienza, Matteo de Brienne; Brandon Cambridge, Kamron Habibullah, Robert Owen Antoniuk 

LA Galaxy U17 3-2 Portland Timbers U17

Heading into the day, it seemed like LA Galaxy needed a result from the final clash against the Timbers. When Portland netted the first goal, it added some drama to the proceedings. Galaxy settled in and secured the victory and the spot in the Champions Division of the 2019 Generation adidas Cup. 

Timbers new signing Masango Akale scored the opening goal. Timbers punished a giveaway from Galaxy as LA tried to dribble out of the defensive third while under pressure. Akale received the ball 25 yards directly in front of the net. He hit a perfect curling shot into the corner for the opener. 

Galaxy responded with Adam Saldana’s first goal of the weekend. Cameron Dunbar did the heavy lifting as he dribbled to the end-line before driving a low cross into the gap between the goalkeeper and the retreating defenders. The ball bounced out to Saldana who crushed it with his right foot into the back of the net. 

The teams went into the break at 1-1 with Galaxy having more chances, but Portland still looking lively with John Foltyn and Akale leading the attack. 

Galaxy took the lead early in the second half. Dunbar deserved credit for the tally even if he might not have had the last touch before the ball cross the line. Dunbar’s shot took a deflection before it ricochetted off a few feet and then snuck past the line. 

Forward Andre Ochoa made it 3-1 Galaxy with a great diving header off a gross from left back Adrian Aguilar. 

Portland made it interesting when Connor Evans struck from 35 yards out on a show to the bottom corner of the net. 

Akale nearly found the equalizer with another long range shot but his shot just sailed over the crossbar. 

Galaxy held onto the lead for the final minutes of the game, and claimed a 3-2 win for their third victory of the long weekend. 

LA Galaxy XI: Carlos Zuniga; Mauricio Cuevas, Connor Place, Kobe Hernandez-Foster, Adrian Aguilar; Adam Saldana, Martin Killeen, Matt Palos; Cameron Dunbar, Andre Ochoa, Sebastian Nava

Portland Timbers XI: Hunter Sulte; Caleb Kiner, Tyler Oakson, Owen Guske, Isaac Homer; Connor Evans, Lukas Fisher, Masango Akale; John Foltyn III, Dyson Clapier, Aldair Sanchez

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