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Weekend Soccer Preview: RSL Academy & Elite teams to play six matches in two days

Grande News, Performance News, Real Salt Lake, Soccer Academy

Grande Sports Academy - Real Salt Lake U-16 - Crossfire Premier - G.Cleverly - Paul BinCASA GRANDE, Ariz. – The Grande Sports Academy home of the Real Salt Lake Academy went a perfect 6-0 in U.S. Soccer Development Academy and Arizona State League play two weeks ago. The Academy has another chance to do it again this weekend with four matches on Saturday and two on Sunday. In a rare occurrence, all the matches will be played at the Grande Sports Academy.

Complete weekend schedule in table form below

Academy

The RSL U-16 and U-18 Academy teams host Southwest Division foes Arsenal on Saturday. The U-18 team, ranked #1 in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer, is the only U.S. Soccer Development Academy team in the nation to not drop any points this season; winning all four matches. The U-18s have outscored their opponents 10-2 and defeated Real So Cal 4-0 in their most recent match on October 26th. The Arsenal U-18 squad is 2-2-2.

The U-16 team, ranked #4 in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer, is second in the Southwest Division with a 3-1-0 record. The U-16s have outscored their opponents 16-3, while earning two clean sheets. Josh Doughty leads the team in scoring with four goals. In their most recent match, the U-16s defeated Real So Cal 3-0 on October 26th. The Arsenal U-16 squad is 2-3-1.

The U-18s play first at 10:00 AM. The U-16 match kicks off at 12:30 PM.

Elite

The RSL U-16 and U-18 Elite teams have dominated Arizona State League play this season. The U-18 squad has gone 3-1-0 and is currently in second place. They face AZ Inferno 96 on Saturday with kickoff set for 10:45 AM. On Sunday they host division leaders Sereno South 96 White with kickoff at 4:05 PM.

The U-16 team has won all five matches played and has a four point lead. On Saturday they host Funolito Bimbo Fuente Azul 98 with kickoff set for 9:00 AM. On Sunday they host Ahwatukee 98 White with kickoff set for 2:20 PM.

Arizona State League home page

Date Time Team Team Location
Nov. 9 9:00 AM RSL U-16 Elite VS Funolito Bimbo Fuente Azul 98 GSA
Nov. 9 10:00 AM RSL U-18 Academy VS Arsenal U-18 GSA
Nov. 9 10:45 AM RSL U-18 Elite VS AZ Inferno 96 GSA
Nov. 9 12:30 PM RSL U-16 Academy VS Arsenal U-16 GSA
Nov. 10 2:20 PM RSL U-16 Elite VS Ahwatukee 98 White GSA
Nov. 10 4:05 PM RSL U-18 Elite VS Sereno South 96 White GSA

 

Real Salt Lake U-18 Academy extend winning streak to four in win over Real So Cal

Grande News, Performance News, Real Salt Lake, Soccer Academy

Grande Sports Academy - Real Salt Lake U18 Academy vs Real So Cal - Jack Gayton (2)CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – The Real Salt Lake U-18 Academy team scored a pair of goals on each side of the half and extended their winning streak to four matches in a 4-1 win over Real So Cal on Sunday morning at the Grande Sports Academy.

Photo gallery: RSL vs. Real So Cal

Both sides had opportunities in the opening minutes with RSL testing the Real So Cal goalkeeper first. Niki Jackson, who has demonstrated an ability to beat the final defender in his previous two Academy matches, broke free and collected a Jose Hernandez through ball. He took a touch and rifled a shot, which was saved on the line. Sixteen minutes later, Real So Cal had their first shot on goal, but was thwarted by Luis “Wicho” Barraza, who made a diving save to his right.

Neither side could control momentum in the beginning stages of the first half, until a quick RSL counter gave them a 4-3 advantage in the 28th minute. Holding midfielder Jack Gayton made a 30-yard run and collected a Jackson pass on top of the 18. He went to his right and sent in a low drive to the back post for his second goal in as many matches.

The match opened up and Real So Cal, riding a two match winning streak, pushed for the equalizer and came close in the 30th-minute on a counter when a shot heading for the far post was saved by an aerobatic Barraza.

As Real So Cal opened up, the Claret-and-Cobalt took advantage of an over-exposed defense in the 34th-minute. Brooks Lennon just on the Real So Cal half whipped in a no look cross to Hernandez, who then mirrored the same sequence between he and Jackson earlier in the match. This time Jackson went to his left and scored his team high third goal.

Real So Cal came out in the second half with a newfound vigor and almost lit up the scoreboard in the 47th-minute if not for a clearance by Erik Holt on the line. This was the closest Real So Cal came to scoring before an 81st-minute goal when the match was well out of reach.

RSL scored their third goal in the 56th-minute when a Damian German sent in a piercing cross from the right-wing to Eric Carbajal, who stretched out and deflected the ball into the empty net for his first career Academy goal.

Corey Baird scored the fourth and final goal for RSL in the 87th-minute when Lennon played a through ball. The Real So Cal goalkeeper ran out to collect the dangerous ball on top of the 18, but a collision between Baird and the ‘keeper squirted the ball forward for Baird, who continued his run and scored to keep the Claret-and-Cobalt perfect in four matches.

 

Goals by Period                                1          2          F

Real Salt Lake U-18 Academy         2          2          4

Real So Cal                                              0          1           1

Scoring Summary:

RSL – Jack Gayton (assist: Niki jackson) – 28’

RSL – Niki Jackson (assist: Jose Hernandez) – 34′

RSL – Eric Carbajal (assist: Damian German) – 56′

RSC – 81′

RSL – Corey Baird – 87′

Lineups:

Real Salt Lake: Luis “Wicho” Barraza (Chase Bishov, 75′), Moises Rodriguez (Corey Nemeth, 71′), Santi Carrillo, Erik Holt, Te Wihongi, Jack Gayton, Eric Carbajal (Corey Baird, 57′), Brooks Lennon, Jose Hernandez (Luis Lopez, 63′), Niki Jackson (Pato Yrizar, 68′), Damian German.

Real Salt Lake U-18 Academy outscored Chivas USA & LA Galaxy 5-1 in an impressive weekend on the road

Grande News, Performance News, Real Salt Lake

LOS ANGELES Cali. – The Real Salt Lake U-18 Academy team remains undefeated in three matches this season after they defeated Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy in a pair of weekend games in the greater Los Angeles area this past weekend.

Saturday, October 5th, Real Salt Lake U-18 vs. Chivas USA U-18
Photo Gallery

Grande Sports Academy - Real Salt Lake U-18 Academy - (2)An impressive second half performance by the Real Salt Lake U-18 squad propelled them to a 2-0 win over Chivas USA at Bell Gardens on Saturday morning.

Brooks Lennon scored the opening goal in the match when Eric Carbajal played a through ball to Lennon. He dribbled into the box and opened up his hips before slotting the ball past the diving Chivas goalkeeper into the far post. Six minutes later, Niki Jackson extended the lead, when he converted a penalty kick after he was taken down inside the box. The two goals were enough as Real Salt Lake controlled possession for the final twenty minutes of the match and never allowed the Goats to threaten in the final third.

Real Salt Lake did create chances in the first half, but at times, the match turned into track meet with the Goats. In the 8th-minute, Chivas had their first chance when a through ball to an attacking player beat a poor positioned RSL defense. Barraza was wise to react without delay to clear the dangerous ball.

Chivas continued to test the RSL defense and deployed a 4-3-3 formation to stretch the Claret-and-Cobalt. In the 22nd-minute, Barraza made another outstanding play when a cross with pace from the wing took a dive in the box. Barraza dived forward and got a hand on the ball to redirect it out.

RSL threatened at times, but couldn’t find enough quality in the final third to get a shot on target. After a halftime talk from the coaches, RSL came out inspired and started to exploit the Chivas right-flank, which eventually gave way to Lennon’s match-winning goal.

After Jackson’s penalty, RSL’s final chance occurred in the dying minute when second-half substitute Sam Gleadle jumped in front of a Chivas goalkeeper clearance and almost redirected it into the net. The final whistle was blown minutes later giving Real Salt Lake their second road win on the season with Barraza earning his second clean sheet.

Goals by Period                                1          2          F

Real Salt Lake U-18 Academy         0          2          2

Chivas USA U-18 Academy              0             0          0

Scoring Summary:

RSL – Brooks Lennon (assist: Eric Carbajal) – 59’

RSL – Niki Jackson – 65’

Lineups:

Real Salt Lake Reserves – Luis “Wicho” Barraza, Te Wihongi (Corey Nemeth, 46′), Santi Carrillo, Erik Holt, Moises Rodriguez (Dillon Nino, 65′), Jack Gayton, Brooks Lennon, Eric Carbajal (Luis Lopez, 72′), Jose Hernandez (Pato Yrizar, 71′), Niki Jackson (Sam Gleadle, 78′), Damian German

Sunday, October 6th, Real Salt Lake U-18 vs. LA Galaxy USA U-18
Photo Gallery

Grande Sports Academy - Real Salt Lake U-18 - Pictures - G.Cleverly - Jose Hernandez (5)In similar fashion to the match the day before, the Real Salt Lake U-18 Academy team used a two-goal second half effort in a 3-1 win over the LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center on Sunday morning.

Jose Hernandez spring life into RSL before the half when he put on a display of footwork. He created space inside the 18 and fired a point-blank shot, which was saved. The ball took a fortunate bounce back to Hernandez, and he made sure to bury the second effort. The Galaxy went into the half stunned, as the Claret-and Cobalt emerged as the team with momentum in the second half.

A formation change by RSL left Niki Jackson as the lone forward, which seemed to suit him fine. Jackson started to use his size and speed on the Galaxy defense, which didn’t seem up to task against Jackson, who scored the match winning goal when a key tackle in the midfield by Jack Gayton sprung the ball forward into space. Jackson collected the ball, beat the Galaxy defense and fired a cracker into the back of the net.

Jackson returned the favor to Gayton, when he took a shot from inside the 18 after a clever sequence between Hernandez and Pato Yrizar. Jackson’s shot was deflected out by the Galaxy ‘keeper to Gayton, who was standing on top of the 18. His first touch was perfect and his low shot into the left-side netting was sublime.

The Galaxy pushed hard in the closing minutes and had a goal taken away by RSL goalkeeper Luis Barraza, when he saved a diving header on the line. The match was over moments later and extended RSL’s match winning streak to three.

 

Goals by Period                                1          2          F

Real Salt Lake U-18 Academy         1          2          3

LA Galaxy U-18 Academy              1             0          1

Scoring Summary:

LA – 18′

RSL – Jose Hernandez – 45’

RSL – Niki Jackson – 63’

RSL – Jack Gayton – 74’

Lineups:

Real Salt Lake Reserves – Luis “Wicho” Barraza, Justen Glad, Erik Holt, Dillon Nino, Corey Nemeth (Moises Rodriguez,46′), Jack Gayton (Santi Carrillo, 87′), Eric Carbajal (Luis Lopez, 46′), Brooks Lennon (Sam Gleadle, 82′), Jose Hernandez, Damian German (Pato Yrizar, 67′), Niki Jackson