TheRSL-AZ Academy hosted Nomads Soccer Club this past weekend at Grande Sports World.
The U18 boys got the weekend started by thrashing the Nomads 4-0. Maikon Orellana led the way with a hat trick in the first half which was followed by an Ari Sanchez goal which saw the Nomads off before the halftime whistle. Eduardo “Lalo” Fernandez kept the clean sheet in the back as the U18’s continued their undefeated home streak which now extends to five out of five matches. They face Arsenal FC in Los Angeles next Friday at 10am at Mt. San Antonio College.
The U16’s started off poorly by giving up a soft goal early in the match. However their response was fantastic and began to dominate possession and create numerous chances. The game went into halftime 1-0 Nomads. In the second half it was more of the same as the RSL-AZ boys looked to find the equalizer. Finally the breakthrough came around the 50th minute mark of the match. Kainoa Bailey played in an pin point cross that eluded the Nomads defenders and dropped to Danny Gavin’s chest. Gavin brought the ball down magnificently and buried past the goalkeeper from about five yards out.
It was game on as both teams kept pushing forward looking for the winner. However it was not to be RSL-AZ’s day as in the final minutes of the match they allowed one of the Nomads strikers to notch home a header off of a corner kick and the match ended 2-1 Nomads in a heartbreaking defeat for the U16’s.
RSL-AZ U16’s take on Arsenal FC next weekend on Saturday at 12:30pm at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Ca. This will be the final two matches before the two groups head to the prestigious Dallas Cup from April 17-24th.