The 2023 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola concluded today with the remaining boys’ finalists taking the Toyota Stadium pitch for the boys’ 17-Under, 18-Under, 19-Under, and Gordon Jago Super Group championship matches.

The marquee match of the day was the much-anticipated Gordon Jago Super Group final between Denmark’s FC Midtjylland and Brazil’s Sao Paulo FC. In the 26th minute, Malthe Melin scored the opening goal of the match. After his first shot on goal was denied by the Sao Paulo keeper, Melin gathered his own rebound and tucked away his second chance on goal to put the Danish side in front, 1-0. In the second half, Sao Paulo continued in pursuit of the equalizing goal, but Midtjylland’s sound team defense, spearheaded by center-back Mikkel Fischer, bottled up the Brazilian side’s attack. The final whistle blew as Dallas Cup debutant, FC Midtjylland, was crowned the 2023 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola Gordon Jago Super Group champion. FC Midtjylland is the first Danish side all-time to claim the coveted trophy. Mikkel Fischer was named the Toyota MVP after the game.

The opening match of the day from Toyota Stadium was the 17-Under Boys’ final between Mexico’s Tigres and the 06 ODP National Select team. The first, and only, goal of the match did not come until the 58th minute when Tigres’ Diego Porras connected on a gorgeous, half-volleyed strike from outside the box to put the Mexican side ahead 1-0. Tigres entered the match conceding just one goal in five games and their strong team defense was on full display again, as they kept a clean sheet, and hoisted the Under 17 “Boot & Ball” trophy, which was their 16th Dallas Cup title all-time.

The 2023 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola Under 18 final featured FC Dallas ECNL White and the 05 ODP National Select team. FC Dallas’ Stetson Buttrill scored the opening goal of the match in the seventh minute with a crafty chip of the keeper to put the local side ahead 1-0. ODP National Select leveled the game in the 18th minute after Damian Espinoza converted from the penalty spot to make the score 1-1. About midway through the second half, ODP’s Itzak Sandoval swung a beautiful cross into the box that found Oliver Becker in stride, who headed home the go-ahead goal in the 67^th minute. The match ended 2-1 in favor of the 2005 ODP National Select side who was named the 2023 Dallas Cup U18 champions.

The 2:00pm match was the U19 final between Dallas Texans ECNL and Louisville City Academy. In the 35th minute, the local side jumped in front with a goal from Clay Murador, who scored a nicely guided goal off the inside of the right post. After the break, however, the Louisville City Academy side found their stride. Kyle Kimberling scored on a beautiful left-footed strike from outside the box that flew into the top corner of the net. Nearing the end of regulation, Andrew Varela scored the winning goal as Louisville City Academy was crowned the Dallas Cup Under 19 Boys champions. Louisville City Academy is the first champion from the state of Kentucky in tournament history.

On Saturday, the Under-13 through Under-16 titles were decided.

The first match of the day was a North Texas clash between the U13 FC Dallas Academy and U13 Dallas Texans Academy ECNL. In the eighth minute, after a beautiful bit of passing around the box, the ball found FC Dallas’ Aiden Gallardo who scored the opening goal of the match. In the 52nd minute, Gallardo scored his brace, connecting from outside the box to put FC Dallas ahead 2-0 late in the match. Dallas Texans’ Noam Lipszyc added a goal with about four minutes remaining in the match, but FC Dallas was able to fend off any other equalizing threats. The match ended 2-1 in favor of the U13 FC Dallas Academy, who were named the 2023 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola Under-13 boys champions.

The boys’ Under-14 final between Mexico’s Atlas FC Academy and Orlando City Soccer School South kicked off at 11:00am from Toyota Stadium. From the opening kick, the match had the look of a defensive battle and that’s exactly what it turned into, as both side’s back line held strong and stifled any meaningful scoring threats. The match ended 0-0 after regulation, sending the teams into a penalty kick shootout to decide the Under-14 champion. Atlas FC Academy converted all their attempts and won the shootout, 5-3, crowning the Mexican side as the first international champion of the 2023 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola.

The Under-15 final kicked off at 1:00pm, featuring Japan’s Maebashi FC and Crossfire Premier ECNL out of Washington. Crossfire Premier entered the match having scored 21 goals in the tournament and their goal scoring prowess was on display at Toyota Stadium. By the 10th minute, Zachariah Hume had already scored a pair of goals (1’, 10’) and Nathan Knoblich notched a goal of his own (6’), as Crossfire jumped out to an early 3-0 lead. In the 16th minute, Maebashi’s Toumu Tobe pulled the Japanese side within two as he connected on a marvelous left-footed strike from outside the box to make the match 3-1. Despite the breakneck pace at the beginning of the game, the play evened out throughout the second half and no more goals were conceded. Crossfire Premier ECNL hoisted the Under 15 “Boot & Ball” trophy, becoming just the second boys’ champion from the state of Washington in tournament history.

The last game of the day was the Under-16 final between the 2007 ODP National Select team and Solar SC. It was a well-played, physical game throughout, but neither side was able to put their name on the scoresheet as the match was sent to PKs following regulation. ODP National Select’s keeper Marshall Degraff set the tone with an outstretched save on the first Solar attempt. Ultimately, the ODP side won the shootout, 4-2, as they were crowned the Under-16 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola champions.

VIDEO / Así fue la dramática tanda de penales en la cual el equipo US Youth Soccer National Select se impuso sobre Solar SC para ganar la categoría sub-16 de la @dallascup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/l7GZhjY7rn

— Pedro Silva (@pedritosilva) April 10, 2023

2023 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola

19U Gordon Jago Super Group: FC Midtjylland (DEN)
19U Boys: Louisville City Academy 05/04 Purple (KY)
18U Boys: USYS - 2005 ODP National Select (USA)
17U Boys: Tigres UANL (MEX)
16U Boys: USYS - 2007 ODP National Select (USA)
15U Boys: Crossfire Premier B08 ECNL (WA)
14U Boys: Academia Atlas FC (MEX)
13U Boys: FC Dallas U13 Academy (TX)
12U Boys: FC Dallas 2011 North Academy (TX)

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

ECNL Girls N. Atlantic Players to Watch

Women's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview

Best of Men's College Soccer Week 13