CARSON, California - There are only two games left in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. On Thursday, the semifinals were held at the National Training Center in Southern California.
FC Dallas U16 defeated Chicago Fire 1-0 in the first game of the day thanks to a late goal from right back Jacob Goyen. The closely contested game was decided by a strike in the 70th minute from the defender. Goyen picked out the corner of the net after FC Dallas had a sequence of passing to try to break down the Fire defense. It was a bit of bad luck for Fire as well as two defenders cramped up on the same play, which left them down to nine on the play leading up to the goal. Fire could not amount much in the attack in the dying minutes of the game and FC Dallas clinched the win and a spot in the final, as the Texas powerhouse tries to repeat as National Champions in this age group after winning the 2015 title last July.
LA Galaxy joined FC Dallas in the title game thanks to a dominant 3-0 win over Real Colorado in the second game of the day. Oscar Penate, Jorge Hernandez, and Jonathan Estrada scored while Eric Lopez recorded the shutout in goal. Lopez was not required to make a save on the day as his defense kept Real Colorado away from the Galaxy net. Penate got the first goal of the game in the 11th minute off of an assist from Estrada. Penate snuck in on the back post unmarked and tucked his shot away for the opener. Hernandez made it 2-0 on a delightful movement from Galaxy that Penate helped finish with a clever flick to set Hernandez in on goal for the second tally of the game. Estrada put it away in the second half when he cleaned up a rebound at the doorstep for a 3-0 win for the local favorites. Galaxy takes on FC Dallas on Saturday in the Development Academy U15/U16 National Championship at the National Training Center.
In the U18 age group, Vancouver Whitecaps thumped PDA 4-1 in the first semifinal. Daniel Sagno led the way with a goal and an assist in the second half. FC Dallas came back from an 0-1 deficit at half to claim a 2-1 win over Nomads in the other semifinal. It will be an all-MLS affair on Saturday with FC Dallas vs. Vancouver in the U18 National Championship.
Below are the standouts from the semifinal round as well as a picture gallery.
