(Scroll down for a rundown of the age groups and brackets on the day before knockout round competition begins)

FRISCO, TEXAS – One of Tuesday’s top matches at the 30th Dallas Cup featured a pair of well-coached U14 squads battling at Richland College. Juan  Sanchez’s Irvine Strikers’ team defeated Russell Shelley’s CESA Premier side 3-1 with a good display of attacking soccer.

Combined with the other results in the team’s Group G, Strikers have now qualified for the event quarterfinals, to be played Thursday.

Strikers won the Coast Soccer League Gold title this fall in Southern California and don’t appear to be missing a beat, but it was the South Carolina side who took the early lead when Aubrey Jones finished a good series of passes from Nicholas Watson and Erik Clark by chipping the goalkeeper from a wide angle. The CESA counterattack was somewhat against the run of play, but illustrated the danger Strikers were facing.

“They were countering and did a really good job defensively,” Sanchez said afterward. “They had the one guy up top who was dangerous, but when they attacked, they attacked with numbers. I think it kind of caught us off guard that we were paying attention to one guy and then all of a sudden three guys were going forward, so they did created a bit of a problem for us early on.”

Strikers did manage to answer the goal in short order, however. Vincent Reyes sent a long ball up the right that Bryan Gutierrez chased down before fending off a stiff challenge from a CESA defender. Gutierrez rolled a pass to Luis Flores who sidestepped a defender and then slotted the ball home to tie the score at 1-1.

Later in the half Strikers’ Ivan Hernandez had a couple of good scoring chances, including one on a pass from Flores, but CESA goalkeeper Arthur Eggers made a pair of top saves to keep match at 1-1 going into the break. Another combination play between Flores and Andres Muniz-Gutierrez was broken up by a vital tackle from CESA’s James Campbell.

Sanchez said the team’s halftime discussion centered on tempo and distribution.

“We made our adjustments in the 2nd half as far as moving the ball a little quicker,” he said. “The plan at halftime was to try and get around their defensive flank, because they were very organized. The 1-2 on that 2nd goal was a nice play and finish. We did better to keep the ball in the 2nd half.”

It was CESA who nearly go the early go-ahead goal however, as Austin Burnikel put on a good move in the forward third and hit a hard shot that forced Edson Arreola into a sprawling save. Burnikel then set up Graham Jermstad for a shot that went just wide.

Strikers responded with a lovely go-ahead goal. Flores made a nice run down the right before hitting Gutierrez with a cross that the Strikers’ striker volleyed home for a 2-1 lead. Alejandro Sanchez then came close with a 30-yard drive that went off the crossbar.

Flores was showing a lot of skill on the ball, as was backline player Willie Raygoza. CESA’s Erik Clark was exceptionally quick and dangerous, and the entire South Carolina team likes a good tackle.

After Mike Wolitski hit the post with a free kick, Ivan Hernandez made it 3-1 with a long-range chip of the keeper. If the game was over then, CESA didn’t know it and kept battling hard to create a series of chances later in the half. Arreola was forced into a pair of good saves from efforts by Watson and Clark. Eggers made a good play on the other end to keep Strikers from extending their lead, but the 3-1 scoreline stood up.

Sanchez said the event and matches like this one will be helpful to his team.

“It’s good to get out of the area and see where we stand,” he said. “California is always one of the stronger regions but it’s important to play other good teams like this when we get a chance so this is an important week for us.”

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AGE GROUP RUNDOWN:

A day before quarterfinal play begins, here is a breakdown of each age group and bracket:


U13

Bracket A: Aztecs FC need a win and English side Southampton to lose or draw. Southampton qualifies with a win.

Bracket B: California side Legends FC lead the group but face a showdown Wednesday with Utah’s Sparta Premier. Mexican side Tigres are also in the mix.

Bracket C: Surf SC lead with 6 points and will win the group with a win or a draw against FC Dallas, who need a win to advance.

Bracket D: Northern California side De Anza Force will advance with a win or a draw against Lehigh Valley, while the Pennsylvanians need a win to take the group.

Bracket E: LAFC Chelsea and Dallas Texans have a winner-take-all match Wednesday.

Bracket F: West Coast FC advance with a win or a draw Wednesday against Solar SC.

Bracket G: Austin’s Lonestars Red, Southern California’s Arsenal and Florida’s West Pines United are all in the mix to advance with one day remaining in group play.


U14

Bracket A: North Texas side CD Independiente has six points from two matches and will advance with a win or a draw Wednesday vs. Mississippi team Gulf Coast United, who needs a win to win the group.

Bracket B: Illinois club Elgin Pumas will win the bracket with a win or a draw against Lonestars SC on Wednesday. The Austin side needs a win to advance.

Bracket C: Southern California’s Albion White and Concorde Fire South are even at 4 points after their draw, with FC Dallas a point behind.

Bracket D: Northern California side De Anza Force advance with a win or a draw against Dallas-based  Chivas. Chivas needs a win to win the group.

Bracket E: Dallas Texans Red will win the group with a win or a draw against West Coast FC, but the Southern Californians advance with a win.

Bracket F: Dallas club Solar Red will advance with a win or a draw, but LAFC Chelsea can take the group title by beating the Texas side on Wednesday.

Bracket G: Irvine Strikers have won the group with a pair of wins.


U15

Bracket A: Mexican side Tigres are on six points after two matches, but still need a draw or a win against Olney Rangers to win the group. The Maryland side can advance with a win.

Bracket B: Mexican side Monterrey lead with six points in two matches, but must win or draw against New Jersey side PASCO Stallions. PASCO can win the bracket with a victory Wednesday.

Bracket C: Northern California’s Santa Clara Sporting and Dallas side Solar Red square off Wednesday for the group title.

Bracket D: LAFC Chelsea and Solar SC meet Wednesday for the group title.

Bracket E:  Texas side Lonestars Red, Colorado’s Pride Predators and Mexican side Monterrey are all in the mix for the group title.

Bracket F: Dallas Texans’ Academy team lead the group, but Aztecs FC of Southern California can steal in with a victory over Texans on Wednesday.

Bracket G: Northern California side De Anza Force lead the group but Texas FC can win it if they beat De Anza on Wednesday.


U16

Bracket A: Norhern California’s Santa Clara Sporting and Canadian side Ajax Gunners meet for the group title on Wednesday.

Bracket B: South Bay Force lead with six points in two matches, and will win the bracket with a win or a draw against Mexican side Club Mana.

Bracket C: Mexican side Club Morumbi have won the group.

Bracket D: Dallas Texans Red have clinched the group title.

Bracket E: Norman Mejia’s Real So Cal White have won the group title and will advance to the quarterfinals.

Bracket F: Southern California side Arsenal and Dallas Texans-Houston will play on Wednesday for the group title.


U17

Bracket A: Mexican side Tigres, Northern California’s Placer United Gold and Dallas Texans Red West are all in the mix to advance.

Bracket B: Mexican side Monterrey and Dallas Texans-Houston play for the group title on Wednesday.

Bracket C: Todd Bailey’s Chicago Magic AS Monaco Academy have qualified for the quarterfinals.

Bracket D: California’s CZ Elite leads with six points from two matches, and needs a win or a draw against Costa Rican club Brujas to win the bracket.

Bracket E: Andromeda’s U16 Academy team lead with six points, but must win or draw against IMG Academy, who needs a win to advance from the group.

Bracket F: FC Dallas will win the group if they win or draw vs. West Coast FC on Wednesday, but the Californians can advance with a win.

Bracket G: Northern California’s Santa Clara Sporting advance with a win or a draw against Canadian side Oakville Gunners, who must win to advance.

Bracket H: Austin’s Lonestars Red, Chicago Fire Juniors and Canadian side Dorchester Rock are still in contention after each has played two matches.


U19

Bracket A: North Texas Strikers advance with a win or a draw against Riverside MGFM of Southern California, who need a win.

Bracket B: California’s NV Fusion leads with six points and will advance with a win or a draw against Solar SC. Solar needs a win.

Bracket C: Dallas Texans Academy and Houston Dynamo Academy play for the group title on Wednesday.

Bracket D: Shattuck St.Marys and AYSES Gold of Dallas play for the group title Wednesday, with both on six points.

Bracket E: Solar SC Academy and Miami FC Academy are both on six points and play for the group title on Wednesday.

Bracket F: Orlando FC advance with a win or a draw, while English side Royal Navy need a win to advance.

Bracket G: FC Dallas Academy have clinched the group title with a pair of wins.


SuperGroup (U19)

Bracket A: English side Manchester City advance with a win or a draw against Toronto FC. AC Milan sent a poor team and are sporting a 0-7 goal difference after two matches.

Bracket B: Eintracht Frankfurt and Sao Paulo FC are even at six points prior to their Wednesday match.

Bracket C: Dallas side Andromeda needs a win over Vancouver Whitecaps to pass the Canadians and qualify for the semifinals.

 

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