FRISCO, TEXAS - The U17 Championship at Dallas Cup featured the lone American team left in the tournament, Santa Clara Sporting, facing off against Tigres of Mexico.

Having advanced past Brasilis FC and West Side Metro Premier in the knockout rounds, Santa Clara would face their toughest test against the Mexicans, playing in the U17 tournament final for the second straight year. Tigres dominated all comers in their games heading into the final with a +10 goal differential.

In a hard fought game that featured some tough tackles, many near-misses and a red card, Tigres’ class would show in the end winning 2-0 and taking the U17 Dallas Cup Championship. Things got off to a flying start for the Mexicans in just the third minute when Issac Martinez dribbled through the heart of the SCS midfield and blasted a right footed shot past Taro Kyllonen in goal.

Tigres doubled their lead in the 34th minute through a Santa Clara defensive error as the Northern Californians failed to clear a corner allowing a free cross from close range that was tapped in by Uvaldo Luna. Luna, a Texas native that has been called into a US U18 Camp, is playing in his third Dallas Cup and mentioned after the game that it was great playing in front of his family.

In the second half, Sporting came out a different side looking to pull one back and they nearly did in the 53rd minute. Gabriel Borges and Julian DelToro, Santa Clara’s most dangerous attacking players, linked up on a counter as Borges sprung DelToro in on goal, however keeper Luis Hernandez got down excellently smothering the shot and preserving the 2-0 lead.

With just a few minutes left in the game, Carlos Gavino for Santa Clara earned his second yellow card on a tackle from behind to kill any hopes of a Sporting comeback and giving Tigres the U17 championship that eluded them last year.

Santa Clara Sporting
GK: Taro Kyllonen
D: Luis Orendain-Holquin, Roberto Tenorio, Andre Alvarez, Adam Ballard
M: Gabriel Borges, Carlos Gavino, Cameron Jurado(Edrey Valencia), Jesus Sanchez(Justin Bermudes)
F: Guillermo Talancon, Julian DelToro(Fernando Deras)

Tigres
GK: Luis Hernandez
D: Victor Montoya, Carlos Salcedo, Juan Carlos Sandate, Ivan Monsivais
M: Uvaldo Luna, Roberto Cavazos, Carlos Utrilla, Issac Martinez
F: Oscar Cardona, Ricardo Chavez

U16 Championship
The U16 Championship saw another Mexican side win as Estudiantes Tecos defeated in-country rivals Chivas Guadalajara 3-2 in a wild game. Tecos seemed to be cruising up 2-0 when Chivas scored two goals in the final minutes of the game to send things to extra time. In extra time, a 30 yard free kick goal put Tecos ahead to give the Mexican club their first Dallas Cup trophy since 1995.

U19 Championship
The U19 Championship game featured Knowsley Youth, a team from Liverpool, England that has been coming to Dallas for over 20 years without a championship. Their quest ended on Sunday as they defeated Ajax Gunners of Canada 4-2 winning their first ever Dallas Cup trophy.

U19 Super Group Championship
In a first for the Dallas Cup, the Super Group championship was declared a draw as Tigres and Eintracht Frankfurt were tied 1-1 when a torrential thunderstorm hit Frisco. After an hour and half, the game was called and the teams were named co-champions.

2011 Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup XXXII Champions

U13
Nomads Academy

U14
Fullerton Rangers

U15
FC Dallas Premier

U16
Estudiantes Tecos

U17
Tigres UANL

U19
Knowsley Youth

U19 Super Group
Tigres & Eintracht Frankfurt