LAKEWOOD RANCH, Florida – With the Under 18 teams getting a well-deserved Sunday to rest, U16 sides carried the day at the Development Academy Winter Showcase.

Two top leading scorers go head-to-head

The meeting of D.C. United and FC Dallas also signified the clash of two of the leading scorers in the U16 Academy age group. United’s Gerson Umana and FC Dallas forward Santiago Agudelo, with 10 and 9 goals respectively, were the two individuals looking to prove themselves against top opposition.

However, despite the firepower boasted by each team, the game played out as a tough and tenacious affair – D.C. United winning the game 1-0 on a first half goal by Joshua Bender in the 31st minute.

“That’s obviously one of the best teams in the country,” D.C. United U16 head coach Tom Torres said after the game. “They gave us fits. The guys got a good goal, put in the work they needed to defensively.”

D.C. started the game sitting back a bit, looking to mostly counter through Umana with a slightly direct aproach. The forward, in his first season in the Academy, doesn’t possess a lot of size, but he creates threats through his pace down the flanks. The goalscorer turned provider, as his corner delivery set up Hester’s tally in the first half.

Agudelo, meanwhile, was a threat himself, especially with the considerable amount of talent around him – a midfield buoyed by Aaron Meyer and Coy Craft, the striker looked to get on the end of the dangerous service provided by the team.

FC Dallas was unable to truly create many dangerous situations through much of the first half. It wasn’t until after the break that things really heated up. D.C. United center back Steven Gandy was sent off for an off-the-ball foul, and FC Dallas began to pour the pressure on, threatening on a number of occasions late in the second half.

Ready to respond in D.C.’s goal was Arie Amman. Son of former MLS goalkeeper Mike, the promising shot-stopper came up huge with three or four big saves, while Agudelo was kept in check and off the score sheet, despite missing a very good chance off a Craft cross late in the second half.

Despite not scoring, the FCD youngster looks the part – boasting a tall frame, good touch on the ball and a high soccer IQ, there’s definitely a good reason he is one of the leading scorers in his age group.

Seattle forward Denis Kalamar scores hat trick

A series of unfortunate events pegged back the Montreal Impact’s hopes of winning its first game at the Showcase.

A first half red card shown to Aron Mkungilwa with the Impact already trailing 1-0 didn’t bode well, and Seattle Sounders forward Denis Kalamar was in dangerous form, scoring a hat trick en route to a 4-0 win against the 10-man Impact.

“A little unfortunate for them that the kid made a poor decision and got a red card in the first half, but in saying that I thought the guys moved the ball well today and Mr. Kalamar was clinical in front of the box,” Sounders Academy Director Darren Sawatzky told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “We’re proud of them, they deserved to win that game by that score line.”

Kalamar opened the scoring from a set piece in the game’s first five minutes, left unmarked in the box to head home and get the Sounders off to a bright start. After Mkungilwa’s sending off, the Impact limited the damage, keeping the score 1-0 at the break.

But Kalamar kickstarted things in the second half, scoring twice more – cleaning up a rebound in the box to slot home, and then latching onto a through ball and smashing home to the far post before coming off.

Victor Mansaray notched a late goal to round out the scoring on the day, as the Sounders were able to truly take advantage of being a man up, passing and moving the ball around well for most of the afternoon.

Houston wins wild clash

Pick of the day in terms of entertainment took place between two MLS Academies, a back-and-forth encounter between the Houston Dynamo and San Jose Earthquakes. The Dynamo held an early 2-1 lead, only to see the Earthquakes come back to score to unanswered goals and take control of the match. However, the Dynamo put in the right kind of response, scoring two more goals in injury time to win the game 4-3.

Red Bulls U16 rebuild? Not needed

The majority of the New York Red Bulls’ 2011-12 U16 championship winning team has moved on to play with the U18s this fall – but that doesn’t mean a complete rebuild is in process.

The U16 roster at the current showcase currently boasts some pretty significant talent – with players like Kevin Politz, Steven Echevarria, not to mention U.S. U17 players Wesley Wade, Christopher Lema and Evan Louro, more promising talent is coming down the pipeline. This despite the team looking uneven against Weston FC, a game they lost 1-0 on Sunday morning.

Whether or not the Red Bulls ever reach the first team is another matter, one that might not be settled for years to come.

Other scores

FC Milwaukee 2, McLean Youth Soccer 0

Potomac 1, Andromeda 0

Chicago Magic 4, FC Westchester 1

Virginia Rush 7, Met Oval 0

Charlotte Soccer Academy 1, Lonestar SC 0

St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri 2, Albertson SC 1

Colorado Rush 2, IMG Academy 2

Texans SC Houston 1, BW Gottschee

Baltimore Bays 1, South Carolina United Battery 0

Richmond Kickers 4, Indiana United Fire 2

NJSA 04 3, Texas Rush 0

Sockers FC 2, CASL Chelsea 1

Revolution Empire 1, Shattuck St. Mary’s 0

Georgia United 2, Real Colorado 2

FC Bolts Celtic 3, Chargers SC 1

Solar Chelsea 2, Crew Soccer Academy 1

Chicago Fire 1, PA Classics 0

Crew Soccer Academy Wolves 2, Real Salt Lake-AZ 0

San Juan Soccer Club 4, Classics Elite 0

New England Revolution 4, Chivas USA 2

Colorado Rapids 3, LA Galaxy 0

Oakwood SC 1, Strikers FC 0

Orlando City SC 2, South Central Premier 0

Internationals 2, Cal Odyssey 2

PDA 1, De Anza Force 0

Seacoast United 1, Richmond Strikers 1

Concorde Fire 1, Crossfire Premier 0

San Diego Surf 3, Dallas Texans 0

Arsenal FC 1, Kendall SC 0

Vancouver Whitecaps 6, Sporting KC 3

Nomads SC 1, North Meck SC 0

FC Delco 3, Portland Timbers 1

North Carolina Fusion 1, Santa Cruz Breakers 1

Real So Cal 3, Vardar SC 2

Pateadores 2, Minnesota Thunder Academy 1

Match Fit Chelsea 2, St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro 1