OAK PARK, Calif. – Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy completed its most successful road trip to date of the 2014-15 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season Sunday, taking nine out of a possible twelve points against Southwest Division opponents Arsenal FC and Real So Cal.
Arsenal FC 0-4 Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-17/18
The Claret-and-Cobalt leapt out to a high-flying start against Arsenal FC, with Brooks Lennon scoring thanks to an Edgar Duran assist for the seventh minute opening goal.
RSL-AZ proceeded to create several scoring opportunities but failed to capitalize on them until the 64th minute, when Diego “Diablo” Silva delivered the ball to a waiting Duran directly in front of goal, who finished to bring the lead to 2-0.
Only four minutes later, Amar Sejdic dribbled around a couple Arsenal FC defenders and into the box where he was brought down, earning the Arsenal defender a red card and a penalty kick which was fired home by Damian German.
Jose Hernandez rounded out the scoring less than ten minutes later, earning a penalty of his own which he successfully converted for the commanding 4-0 road win.
Arsenal FC 1-0 Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16
In the second game of the Arsenal-RSL doubleheader, the two teams in the top half of the Southwest Division table engaged in a physical battle that resulted in bumps and bruises for a number of RSL-AZ players.
A pair of saves from Conor Orton at the end of the first and beginning of the second halves helped keep the game scoreless. In the 65th minute, Arsenal FC had a goal from a corner kick disallowed for a foul in the box.
Four minutes later, Arsenal FC were able to net the opening goal on a free kick near the corner flag, with Alejandro Lara heading in to capture the lead and the eventual 1-0 win.
Real So Cal 0-2 Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-17/18
RSL-AZ U-17/18 opened the scoring once again in the first of Sunday’s games, with Edgar Duran smashing a loose ball in the box into the back of the net to give the visitors the lead in the 12th minute.
The Claret-and-Cobalt nearly doubled their lead throughout the first half but were unable to score on any one of the many opportunities they created. A diving save from goalkeeper Christian Herrera maintained RSL-AZ’s 1-0 lead at the half time break.
Real So Cal nearly equalized in the 54th minute on a shot that glanced off Herrera’s leg, but the contact slowed the ball down enough for a goal line clearance from Danny Acosta.
With ten minutes left to play, Brooks Lennon connected with Jose Hernandez, who touched the ball across the face of goal to a wide-open Tate Schmitt for a tap in goal and a 2-0 RSL-AZ win.
Real So Cal 1-2 Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16
In the final match of the weekend, RSL-AZ U-15/16 sought to end the Southern California road trip with a positive result against Southwest Division leaders Real So Cal.
In the 34th minute, Robby Orona gave the Claret-and-Cobalt the lead on a great bit of individual play, dribbling into space from just outside the box and shooting low to the far post with his left foot for the goal.
RSL-AZ looked poised to go into half time with the lead, but a momentary lapse in defense on a stoppage time corner kick gave Real So Cal a goal and allowed them back into the game just before the half time whistle.
With 20 minutes left to play, Max Yanakaev faked a shot to free up space from 30 yards out before firing the ball off the post and in to retake the lead and earn Yanakaev his first Academy goal.
RSL-AZ U-15/16 held on to capture all three points against the division leaders and earn their best result in the early months of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy season.
Next weekend, Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy plays host to San Juan Soccer Club at Grande Sports World. RSL-AZ U-17/18 kicks off at 10:00 a.m. followed by RSL-AZ U-15/16 at 12:30 p.m.
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