Academy Playoffs: Punching QF tickets
WESTFIELD, Ind. — As the Development Academy Showcase winds down to its final two days, the U16s and U18s returned to action Thursday. It was another great defensive performance from each age group, bearing low scoring games.
Here's at a couple of noteworthy games from Thursday's action, as U18 playoff games wrapped up, and teams punched spots in the quarterfinals.
Baltimore Bays Chelsea (U16) 1-0 Charlotte Soccer Academy (U16)
The uncanny weather also made a return as the morning games kicked off in a thick fog. Thankfully the fog didn't interrupt the games and the Baltimore Bays Chelsea steered clear to a 1-0 victory over the Charlotte Soccer Academy in a showcase game.
Baltimore pounced on Charlotte early in the first half with a goal in the 21st minute that would eventually win them the game. Charlotte’s Geoffrey Liskoff tried to answer with a goal of his own just ten minutes later, but was denied by the Chelsea keeper.
Just before the first half came to a close Charlotte threatened to tie the game on a free kick, but was stopped once more by the Chelsea keeper. Both teams had multiple chances at goals from corner kicks, but neither was able to take advantage and went into halftime with Chelsea leading 1-0.
Colin Horne attempted to get the Chelsea offense rolling in the second half, but his shot in the 63rd minute was blocked by Charlotte goalie Dylan Biggerstaff.
MORE: Day 1 top performers | Day 3 recap | Day 3 top performers | Day 4 top performers
Each team continued to struggle to create offense in the second half, until Charlotte was able to crank the intensity up a notch and generate more shots.
Oliver Leo put a scare in the Chelsea defense as his shot hit the side post in the 76th minute, leaving Chelsea with a 1-0 lead. Charlotte had five late shots in the final ten minutes of the game, however all were off target or saved by the keeper. Which lead to the 1-0 final and a Chelsea victory.
New York Red Bulls (U18) 1-1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s (U18)
In a much-anticipated rematch of the 2013 Development Academy championship, an invitation to the Development Academy Finals Week was at stakee between the two undefeated U18 squads.
Both the New York Red Bulls and Shattuck-St. Mary’s lead Group E with six points apiece, but only one could come out on top. Shattuck-St. Mary’s came out on top.
It took the game about 30 minutes to pick up life when Rafael Terci fired a great shot opportunity for New York that sailed just over the goal. Shortly after, the Red Bulls were attacking again when Chris Lema’s cross connected with Alexander Tejera who was unable to score.
Shots were coming from all over in the final minutes of the first half. Shattuck’s Cole Poppen had his shot fly just right of the goal and minutes later Lesley Nchanji’s cross to Ricardo Lopez-Espin also came up empty for Shattuck.
Strong defensive performances by Brandon Tetro of New York and Francisco Narbon of Shattuck kept offensive assaults away by breaking up corner kicks and crosses, resulting a 0-0 halftime score.
Early in the second half Shattuck’s Lesley Nchanji injured his right leg tracking down a ball and was unable to return. It didn’t look too good for Shattuck’s offense, but not too long after a beautiful pass from Geoffrey Dee landed with Abdulla Al-Kalisy for the match’s first goal. Shattuck 1-0.
Nearly five minutes after Shattuck had gained momentum, the Red Bull’s Brandon Tetro scored off a cross from Chris Lema to tie the game 1-1.
Both goalkeepers each had one critical block in stoppage time end the game at 1-1. The tie resulted in New York and Shattuck each earning one point, totaling each team to 7 points on the week.
Though a tie isn’t always a bad thing, it was for New York as Shattuck had won the tiebreaker of 7 total goals to New York’s 6. Shattuck will advance to the Finals Week for the second year in a row.
Final U18 Playoff Standings (First place team advances)
Group A
Chivas USA (6 points, +4 GD)
Houston Dynamo (6 points, 0 GD)
New England Revolution (6 points, -1 GD)
Capital Area Railhawks (0 points, -3 GD)
Group B
Montreal Impact (7 points, +3 GD)
LA Galaxy Academy (6 points, +3 GD)
Chicago Magic PSG (3 points, -4 GD)
Real Colorado (1 point, -2 GD)
Group C
PDA (7 points, +5 GD)
Crew Soccer Academy (5 points, +2 GD)
Real So Cal (4 points, -3 GD)
De Anza Force (0 points, -4 GD)
Group D
FC Dallas (9 points, +5 GD)
Chicago Fire (6 points, +4 GD)
Portland Timbers (3 points, 0 GD)
Charlotte Soccer Academy (0 points, -9 GD)
Group E
Shattuck St. Mary’s (7 points, +3 GD) – advanced on goals scored
New York Red Bulls (7 points, +3 GD)
Nomads SC (3 points, +1 GD)
DC United (0 points, -5 GD)
Group F
Bethesda-Olney (9 points, +10 GD)
Vancouver Whitecaps (4 points, +2 GD)
Georgia United (3 points, -7 GD)
Solar Chelsea SC (1 point, -5 GD)
Group G
Colorado Rush (7 points, +3 GD)
Carolina Rapids (6 points, +3 GD)
Philadelphia Union (4 points, 0 GD)
Oakwood SC (0 points, -8 GD)
Group H
Seattle Sounders FC (9 points, +15 GD)
Real Salt Lake AZ (4 points, -1 GD)
Indiana Fire Academy (4 points, -3 GD)
Concorde Fire (0 points, -11 GD)
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