Solar Chelsea SC and Real Salt Lake Arizona advanced to their first ever Development Academy National Championship on Thursday when both clubs’ U16 squads won their final group play game at the Houston Amateur Sports Park.

Solar Chelsea SC cruised past De Anza Force 3-0 thanks to a standout performance from Toryima Asom, who gave the De Anza defense trouble all game with his speed and setup a pair of goals.

Real Salt Lake used a goal from Damian German and a strong defensive performance led by Justen Glad and Luis Barraza to top Texans SC Houston 1-0 in the other group. Albertson defeated Houston Dynamo 2-0 in the other game to help the MLS residential academy win the group and advance to the championship title on Saturday.

In the U18 fixtures, New York Red Bulls, the defending champions in the U16 age group, advanced to the National Championship with a 4-0 win over Seattle Sounders. Georgetown commits Arun Basuljevic and Alex Muyl combined for three of the four goals. Connecticut recruit Ethan Decker converted a penalty kick for the other goal.

Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Soccer Academy played to a 2-2 draw against De Anza Force, which was enough for the Minnesota club to advance to the National Championship for the first time in the club’s history. Shattuck-Saint Mary’s survived the onslaught from the Northern California club, which needed a win, in the dying moments to grab a point and set up the final against the Red Bulls on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. (CT).

 

Photos: Grande Sports Academy