WESTFIELD, Ind. – In a matchup of day one winners from Group F, Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16 prevailed over Georgia United, 5-2. Sebastian Saucedo’s second hat trick in two games proved too much for Georgia to handle, giving RSL-AZ sole possession of the top spot in Group F in the 2013-14 US Soccer Development Academy Playoffs.

Unlike Tuesday’s 3-1 win over New Jersey Soccer Academy 04, RSL-AZ U-15/16 got off to a flaming hot start against Georgia United. A handball in the box from Georgia led to the match’s first scoring opportunity, where Sebastian Saucedo calmly converted the penalty kick to give RSL-AZ the 1-0 lead.

In the 11th minute, RSL-AZ doubled their lead when Tate Schmitt connected with Josh Doughty, who delivered the ball to Saucedo for another goal on a fantastic passing sequence. “Bofo” Saucedo scored once again in the 25th minute, finishing off his hat trick and giving RSL-AZ a solid 3-0 lead.

In the last 15 minutes of the half, Georgia United started to find their stride, challenging the RSL-AZ defense with some high pressure up field, but neither team were able to find the net by the half time whistle, leaving the score at 3-0 in favor of RSL-AZ.

Three minutes into the second half, Danilo Acosta opened his goal scoring account for the 2013-14 US Soccer Development Academy Playoffs, receiving a layoff pass from Saucedo to slot home for the goal and increase RSL-AZ’s lead to four.

In the 50th minute, Georgia United found a successful formula for attack, crossing in low from the right wing and getting a tap in from substitute Sean Gagne to cut the RSL-AZ lead to three. That opportunity was quickly followed by two more in similar fashion, but neither was successful in converting another goal.

“Bofo” notched his second assist of the game in the 63rd minute, playing a through ball to Diego Silva on the left wing, who cut in and scored from a very tight angle to increase the RSL-AZ lead back to four goals.

Georgia United, however, were able to score once more in the 68th minute, netting a consolation goal from Kwaku Adu-Boahene to improve their goal differential in hopes of overtaking RSL-AZ in the standings on the last match day of Group F. The 5-2 score line would hold for the final whistle.

With the maximum six points from two games, Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16 are guaranteed progression to the quarterfinals of the 2013-14 US Soccer Development Academy Playoffs with a win or draw against St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri U-15/16 (0-0-2). Kickoff is scheduled for Friday, June 27 at 11:00 am on Field 13 at Grand Park.

“You come out with the mentality to get the three points, playing our style, believing in our style of play and we got it today,” said Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy Head Coach Martin Vasquez. “That’s a good feeling, playing well, winning and there was no doubt who was the better team.”

Going into the third match, “We’re going to go take the same approach: get the three points. That’s always been our approach and I think winning the first two games puts you in a great situation so we’ve got to finish the job,” said Vasquez.

Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-17/18 take on Seattle Sounders FC U-17/18 on Thursday, June 26 at 10:00 am on Field 6. RSL-AZ will need a win against Seattle in order to advance to the quarterfinals, with the Sounders earning six points through their first two games with a whopping +13 goal difference.

“The boys work hard all year long, they prepare for three weeks to put themselves in that situation where in the third game, everything is up for grabs,” said Vasquez. “It’s a meaningful game, it’s huge for the 18s because the last two years, we got to the third game and it has not meant anything, we’ve been out. This is the best group of 18s we’ve had because of the successful regular season and they put themselves in a game where if they win, they go through.”

Click here for Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy’s complete playoff schedule. Click here for a breakdown of all of the teams that RSL-AZ U-15/16 and U-17/18 will be facing this week in Indiana.

Group F Wins Draws Losses Points Goals For Goals Against
Real Salt Lake-Arizona U-15/16 2 0 0 6 8 3
New Jersey Soccer Academy 04 U-15/16 1 0 1 3 3 3
Georgia United U-15/16 1 0 1 3 3 5
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri U-15/16 0 0 2 0 0 3

Scoring Summary

Georgia United U-15/16

50’ – Sean Gagne
68’ – Kwaku Adu-Boahene

Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16

4’ – Sebastian Saucedo
11’ – Sebastian Saucedo
25’ – Sebastian Saucedo
43’ – Danilo Acosta
63’ – Diego Silva

Lineups

Georgia United U-15/16

Nicholas Adamczyk (Nathan Russell, 66’)
Kwaku Adu-Boahene
Nigel Blackwood
Sebastian Carlson (Matt Taylor, 45’)
Robert Dean
Kyle Lancaster
Plamen Mangarov (Qur’an Thomas, 41’)
Diego Manrique
Chris Mikus (River Smith, 69’)
Matt Morgan
Moise Suri (Sean Gagne, 46’)

Unused Substitutes: Samuel Morton

Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16

Christian Herrera
Aaron Herrera
Miles Stray
Gavino Carranza (Tyler Feeley, 66’)
Diego Silva
Danilo Acosta
Adolfo Ovalle
Tate Schmitt (Alex Knox, 53’)
Evan Waldrep (Terrell Lowe, 53’)
Sebastian Saucedo (Kristopher Fourcand, 73’)
Josh Doughty (Nicholas LaMonica, 44’)

Unused Substitutes: Conor Orton, Fahot Yogol

Discipline

Georgia United U-15/16

None

Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16

Yellow – Adolfo Ovalle

GDPR