CARSON, Calif. – The Los Angeles Galaxy are the 2013-14 US Soccer Development Academy U-15/16 National Champions after defeating the defending champions Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy 2-0 in the playoff finals at the StubHub Center, home of the Galaxy men’s team.
“I’m just so proud of the boys for sacrificing away from home and not letting their guard down,” said RSL-AZ captain Sebastian Saucedo. “It was a difficult game, playing LA Galaxy at their home, but I just think it’s time for us to bounce back and win another national championship next year.”
Early on, neither team was able to create a chance that seriously threatened for a goal. Both teams were likely playing conservative, knowing the high stakes at hand in the championship game.
While RSL’s nerves may have contributed to some difficulties in their usual passing and possession focused attack, the Galaxy’s strategy was clearly to catch RSL off-guard on a counter attack, pushing forward quickly and decisively whenever they won the ball in an effort to score.
LA opened the scoring in the 28th minute when a failed clearance by the RSL defense led to a shot for LA’s Alex Ramos which ricocheted off the post and to the feet of Dylan Smith, who poked the ball into the back of the net to take a 1-0 lead.
In the 34th minute, Evan Waldrep played a through ball to Josh Doughty, whose left footed attempt on goal forced a save from the LA goalkeeper Bennett Sneddon. Doughty’s shot represented RSL’s best scoring opportunity of the first half.
LA then doubled their lead in the 52nd minute on a corner kick, when Brian O’Hara headed the corner past the crowd of players gathered at the near post to an unmarked Juan Orozco, who finished what would turn out to be the final goal of the match.
RSL created two dangerous chances in an attempt to bring the game back within reach in the 72nd minute. First, “Bofo” Saucedo found space on the left on a counter attack with Doughty running down the middle. “Bofo” centered to Doughty who fired to the keeper’s right, forcing a diving save from Sneddon.
Moments later on an RSL corner kick, “Bofo” found the head of substitute Tate Schmitt, but Schmitt’s header sailed just over the crossbar, settling on the roof of the goal. That would prove to be RSL’s last serious threat on goal.
Minutes later, the final whistle sounded, declaring the Los Angeles Galaxy the 2013-14 US Soccer Development Academy U-15/16 National Champions.
“I thought it was a good season,” said RSL defender Justen Glad. We played very well. We did very well in [the Generation Adidas] Cup, we got to the finals, we only lost a few games. As a team, we know our style, we know how to play together, and that’s what it’s all about. Next year we’ll have even more time to perfect that and hopefully win it all going forward.”
You can watch a replay of the game here. The Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy players now head home for a short break with their friends and families before returning to Grande Sports World to start all over again, aspiring to once again hold the title of National Champions.
Scoring Summary
Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16
None
Los Angeles Galaxy U-15/16
28’ – Dylan Smith
51’ – Juan Orozco
Lineups
Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16
Danilo Acosta
Gavino Carranza (Tate Schmitt, 52’)
Josh Doughty
Justen Glad
Aaron Herrera
Christian Herrera
Adolfo Ovalle
Sebastian Saucedo
Diego Silva
Miles Stray
Evan Waldrep (Alex Knox, 59’)
Unused Substitutes: Tyler Feeley, Nicholas LaMonica, Terrell Lowe, Conor Orton
Los Angeles Galaxy U-15/16
Malcolm Jones
Michael Lopez
Brian O’Hara
Juan Orozco (Andrew Perez, 68’)
Rey Ortiz
Alex Ramos
Christian Segovia
Dylan Smith
Bennett Sneddon
Adrian Vera
Ethan Zubak (Jorge Ruiz, 68’)
Unused Substitutes: Bilal Abdallah, Enrique Bustamante, Elan Koenig, Christian Onalfo, Max Watkin
Discipline
Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16
Yellow – Josh Doughty
Yellow – Sebastian Saucedo
Los Angeles Galaxy U-15/16
Yellow – Juan Orozco
Yellow – Dylan Smith
well It was painful lost 6 -1 @ generation ADIDAS los 1-0 in AZ (one mistake) and see the owner of RSL congratulated the boy’s of RSL academy and have and article after the game BUT MORE PAINFUL IS LOST THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME and the way the lost now MR OWNER are you have another article so I can read?
LA GALAXY , LA GALAXY, LA GALAXY.
see you guys soon.