Real Salt Lake U-16’s played Chicago Sockers to a scoreless draw on Wednesday night. RSL needs to defeat FC Dallas on Friday to advance.
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Real Salt Lake U-16’s played Chicago Sockers to a scoreless draw on Wednesday night. RSL needs to defeat FC Dallas on Friday to advance.
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Frisco, TX (June 25, 2013) –Real Salt Lake U16 Academy scored a goal in each half and cruised to a 2-0 victory over FC DELCO in their opening game of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs on Tuesday night.
Picture gallery from the game here
Led by the play of Sebastian “Bofo” Saucedo and an aggressive backline, RSL is now tied for first place in their group with FC Dallas who also won their opening game.
RSL’s opening goal was thing a beauty. In the 20th minute, Diego “Diablo” Silva, playing LB, collected the ball near the midline and passed it up to Fito Ovalle while making a run on the wing. Ovalle played it back to Silva, who continued his run, and passed forward to Saucedo who passed it back to Silva. He took two touches and slotted the ball far post. FC DELCO’s defense could do nothing but stare at the new perfect precision passes RSL produced.
Saucedo doubled RSL’s lead 48th minute when he went box-t0-box, after a FC DELCO corner, and fired a screamer from the right side across the face of goal.
FC DELCO pushed players forward as time was running out but physical play led by Justen Glad, Dillon Nino, Jason Eng and Moises Rodriguez thwarted any potential attack DELCO produced.
Unlike their older counterparts, the U-16 team wasted no time establishing their identity early in the game. Early shots by Brooks Lennon, Josh Doughty and Sacuedo threatened the DELCO goal but were all just wide of the net. Fito Ovalle, arguably his best Academy game to date, controlled the middle with poise, crisp passing and constant tackles. He alone stopped numerous DELCO attacks which resulted in the chances RSL had early on.
As the half progressed, DELCO woke up near the end and sent in a few shots that could have equalized the game. The first was in the 26th minute when a dipping ball, heading near post, was saved by a leaping ‘keeper Chase Bishov. Seven minutes later Bishov made the save of the game when an DELCO player had a open look on the left side of the net. Bishov raced out and made himself as big as possible and saved the shot with his feet.
After halftime RSL made two changes. Rodriguez playing LW switched with Silva and Jack Gayton was brought on for Doughty. This proved to be vital as DELCO brought on a few physical players. Their strategy didn’t pay off as Gayton and Rodriguez matched their opponents and essential cut off and stopped any attack DELCO had which forced them to play of the wings.
This worked into RSL’s strength at Glad and Nino cleared every cross and challenged any player who broke free in the middle. RSL continued to play lockdown defense for the remaining minutes in the second half and preserved the shutout giving them the all but important opening victory in group play.
Hungry might be the best way to describe RSL’s performance and if this game was any indication as to how they will play for the remainder of the playoffs coaches will be pleased. Constant praise was coming from the bench for individual performances. With the U-18 team already eliminated from the playoffs the U-16’s look like they are ready to keep things positive going forward for the Real Salt Lake Academy.
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Game recap
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Thirty-two teams qualified for the playoffs and were divided up into eight groups with four teams per group. The teams in the group will play each other once and the winner of the group will advance to finals week that will be held between July 14-20 in Houston, Texas.
Real Salt Lake Academy teams are one of six teams in the country to have their U-16’s & U-18’s qualify for the playoffs in each of the past three years. Other teams are: CASL Chelsea FC Academy, FC Dallas, Chicago Fire, Concorde Fire, Crew Soccer Academy.
Below is how the teams in RSL’s group finished the 2012-2013 season.
Playoff Finish | Games | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | PTS/G | |
Real Salt Lake | #7 | 28 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 61 | 73 | 35 | 2.18 |
DC United | #9 | 25 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 53 | 72 | 29 | 2.12 |
CASL Chelsea FC Academy | #17 | 25 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 46 | 37 | 28 | 1.84 |
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri | WC #11 | 27 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 46 | 50 | 31 | 1.70 |
Previous results for the U18′s:
2011-2012: RSL finished second in the group winning 2 games, losing 1, scoring 4 goals and conceding 2.
2010-2011: RSL finished second in the group winning 2 games,losing 1, scoring 7 goals and conceding 3.
The U16′s go into their group as the second best team. Below is how the teams in their group finished the 2012-2013 season.
FC Dallas | #3 | 27 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 65 | 70 | 18 | 2.41 |
Real Salt Lake | #14 | 28 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 56 | 68 | 34 | 2.00 |
FC DELCO | WC #4 | 25 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 46 | 47 | 29 | 1.84 |
Sockers FC | WC #9 | 27 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 46 | 39 | 22 | 1.70 |
Previous results for the U16′s:
2011-2012: RSL finished second in the group winning 2 games, losing 1, scoring 9 goals and conceding 5.
2010-2011: RSL won their group winning 2 games, drawing 1, scoring 13 goals and conceding 3 goals. In finals week they finished second in their group winning 1 game and drawing 2. They advanced to the third place game and defeated Real So Cal, 8-7, on penalties. Video of that here.
ALL GAMES LOCAL TIME (Dallas)
U18 Schedule
Monday, June 24th
Real Salt Lake vs St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri – 9:15pm at FC Dallas Sports Park Field #15
Tuesday, June 25th
Real Salt Lake vs CASL Chelsea FC Academy – 9:30pm at FC Dallas Sports Park Field #15
Thursday, June 27th
Real Salt Lake vs DC United – 11:00am at FC Dallas Sports Park Field #15
U16 Schedule
Tuesday, June 25th
Real Salt Lake vs FC DELCO – 7:15pm at FC Dallas Sports Park Field #12
Wednesday, June 26th
Real Salt Lake vs Sockers FC – 9:00pm at FC Dallas Sports Park Field #9
Friday, June 28th
Real Salt Lake vs FC Dallas – 11:00am at FC Dallas Sports Park Field #7
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The final regular season game for the Real Salt Lake U18’s & U16’s was this past weekend vs Arsenal FC. The U18’s needed a victory and some help to win the Southwest Division and the U16’s needed any points to secure the best possible playoff seeding. Below is the recap, pictures and video of a goal from the U18’s.
RSL U18 vs Arsenal U18
Starting XI: Luis Barraza (71′), Corey Nemeth, Jonathan Stadler, Santi Carrillo, Tigran Tiraturyan (65′), Andrew Brody (75′), Jon Zabasajja (46′), Jose Hernandez, Jose “Bean” Vasquez (75′), Coco Navarro, Amer Sasivarevic (73′)
Bench: Haedan Turner (75′), Miguel Martinez (71′), Kostas Kotselas (46′), Isaias “Junior” Juarez, Brandon Johnston (73′), Te Wihongi (65′), Eric Gonzalez (75′)
Pictures from the game here
Video of Tigran Tiraturyan’s goal here
It took Real Salt Lake U18’s 44 minutes to find the back of the net and once they did the onslaught was on. A season high eight goals were scored in the season finale against Arsenal FC at Grande Sports World. RSL finishes the season 19-5-4 for a second place finish in the Southwest Division, the highest finish in the three-year history for the academy.
After being down a goal for the majority of the half RSL equalized in the 45th minute when an Arsenal player was shown a second yellow for a vicious tackle from behind which sent him off. Tigran Tiraturyan stepped up and converted the free kick. Moments later RSL pressured the Arsenal backline which created a turnover. Coco Navarro found himself alone in the box and scored RSL’s second of the match.
One change at the half brought Kostas Kotselas into the game for Jon Zabasajja. His presence was felt 44 seconds later when he doubled RSL’s lead. Amer Sasivarevic scored the next 2 goals giving him 6 in 8 games. Te Wihongi entered the game before Sasivarevic’s second goal and created numerous defensive problems for Arsenal on the left side. In the 70th minute Wihongi sent in a low cross which lead to a blocked Navarro shot. Seconds later Wihongi made the same run again and sent in the low cross. This time Navarro would not be denied giving him his second goal in the game and his 20th on the season.
RSL’s 7th goal was scored by Kotselas from an Andrew Brody cross and second half substitute Eric Gonzalez broke free on the left-wing and beat the goalie near post for the final goal. It was Gonzalez’s first goal for the academy in the three years at GSA.
RSL did concede 2 goals in the game. The first was in the 10th minute when Arsenal countered and the second a remarkable shot. After Sasivarevic’s first goal, on the restart, an Arsenal player took a shot from halfway and scored a spectacular goal.
With the victory RSL’s U18’s finished in second place. They are tied with the LA Galaxy on points but the Galaxy have a better goal differential giving them the Division crown. RSL also looks like they have secured a pot #1 draw in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs which will be drawn on June 17th.
RSL U16 vs Arsenal U16
Starting XI: Christian Herrera, Moises Rodriguez, Luis Lopez, Dillion Nino, Jason Eng, Jack Gayton (56′), Fito Ovalle, Evan Waldrep (72′), Diego Silva, Josh Doughty, Damian German.
Bench: Bayley Scholz, Alex Knox (56′), Miles Stray (72′), Adam Ferguson, Nate Deaton
Real Salt Lake U16’s already secured second place in the Southwest Division and needed one last strong showing to remain in the second pot for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs. A 1-1 draw with Arsenal FC may not seem like the ideal result but the one point secured in this game will keep RSL in the second pot.
By remaining in the second pot, RSL will avoid having to play tougher competition in group play.
RSL started off well scoring in the 20th minute when Damian German pounced on a loose ball in the box but an unfortunate defensive miscue 5 minutes into the second half saw Arsenal equalize the game.
Chances in the game were limited for both sides due to the strong defensive performances. RSL’s defense lead by Dillion Nino and Jason Eng were active early blocking Arsenal shots and cutting off Arsenal attacks. Eng also started RSL’s most dangerous attack in the 30th minute when he and Josh Doughty connected for a quick counter up the right-wing. Doughty laid it off to Evan Waldrep who’s shot was deflected out.
After Arsenal’s goal, Damian German produced RSL’s final 2 chances. In the 48th minute he chipped the ‘keeper but put a little too much on the ball as it sailed over the crossbar. His last chance came in the 65th minute when his shot from the side was saved by the Arsenal ‘keeper who had to lay out.
Arsenal had one final chance but were once again stopped by Nino who had a stellar performance in the regular season finale. RSL closes out the season W17-L6-D5 and finished in second place in the Southwest Division, the highest finish in franchise history.