CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – The Real Salt Lake U-16 Academy has extended their winning and clean sheet streak to three following their 2-0 win over Southwest Division foes San Diego Surf on Saturday afternoon at the Grande Sports Academy.
Photo Gallery: Real Salt Lake vs. Surf
The Claret-and-Cobalt’s first half was one of the best showings all season. The right side pairing of Aaron Herrera and Tate Schmitt created matchup problems for the Surf, which RSL took advantage of in the 25th-minute. Schmitt attacked the left-wing and stopped about halfway into the Surf’s half. He looked up and whipped in a cross to Sebastian Saucedo, who trapped the ball and slotted the ball into the near post for his team high fifth goal.
Diego “Diablo” Silva terrorized the right-side of the Surf defense with pace and doubled RSL’s lead in the 30th-minute when Josh Doughty played a ball up top Saucedo. Saucedo cut into the box, dribbled to the touch-line and passed to the top of the 18 to Silva, who hit the ball one time for his third goal on the season. Doughty had RSL’s final chance before half, but his tight-angled shot was saved for a corner.
After the break, RSL continued to impress in the second half. Herrera, Justen Glad, Miles Stray and Grant Livingston were a wall and limited the Surf to little possession in RSL’s half. Doughty, Saucedo and Schmitt continued to combine for chances up top, but had all their shots blocked or saved. Glad provided some late heroics on the Sruf’s final push in the 80th-minute when he slid in front of a shot and blocked it.
Through six matches, RSL leads the Southwest Division with 15 points. In RSL’s last three matches, all at home, they have outscored opponents 11-0.
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake U-16 Academy 1 1 2
Surf 0 0 1
Scoring Summary:
RSL – Sebastian Saucedo (assist: Tate Schmitt) – 25′
RSL – Diego “Diablo” Silva (assist: Sebastian Saucedo) – 30′
Lineup:
Real Salt Lake: Christian Herrera, Grant Livingston (Fahot Yogol, 69′), Miles Stray, Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera, Danny Acosta, Evan Waldrep, Diego “Diablo” Silva, Josh Doughty (Daniel Lee, 76′), Tate Schmitt (Alex Knox, 72′), Sebastian Saucedo.