CARSON, Calif. – The Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy teams both hit their first major roadblocks of the 2014-15 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season over the weekend, failing to capture a single point against Southwest Division powers and fellow MLS academies Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy.
Chivas USA 3-1 Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-17/18
The first game of the weekend played out to a scoreless first half, with Chivas USA playing very conservatively in the opening 45 minutes in an effort to keep the game close.
Chivas then came out aggressive to begin the second half and grabbed the lead on a Michael Flores free kick goal in the 57th minute. Less than five minutes later, Chivas USA’s Jonathan Hernandez doubled the Goats’ lead.
In the 79th minute, Jose Hernandez earned a penalty kick after being taken down by two Chivas defenders in the box. Hernandez converted the penalty to cut the lead back down to one.
Despite superior play and several missed opportunities from the Claret-and-Cobalt, Chivas USA’s Michael Flores sealed the game in the 86th minute, forcing a turnover in the back and scoring to get the 3-1 win.
Chivas USA 2-1 Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16
The second game of Saturday’s doubleheader against Chivas USA also featured a 0-0 draw at the end of 40 minutes of play in Bell Gardens.
Chivas got the offense going right off the bat in the second half, as Daniel Villegas finished off a cross into the box to give the Goats a huge opening goal. In the 50th minute, Chivas’ Leonides Cuteno chipped in a goal to double the lead to 2-0.
In the 55th minute, Miles Stray headed in a corner kick for a goal to bring the deficit back down to one and the Claret-and-Cobalt a shot at coming back. However, Chivas would hold on in the end for the 2-1 win.
LA Galaxy 2-0 Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-17/18
With their 15-game undefeated streak over, Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-17/18 had no chance to recover as they faced off on Sunday with heated rivals LA Galaxy.
The Galaxy wasted no time taking the lead, scoring in the 11th minute when Adonis Amaya leapt onto a rebounded ball and put it into the back of the net to secure a 1-0 lead that they’d take into the half time break.
In the second half, the Galaxy would double their lead thanks to an Elijah Martin goal on a counterattack against RSL-AZ’s high press. Despite solid chances from Damian German and Brooks Lennon, the Galaxy would capture the 2-0 win.
LA Galaxy 2-0 Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16
The Galaxy scored just as quickly in the weekend finale, with Ethan Zubak breaking past the RSL-AZ U-15/16 defense on a through ball and finishing to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead.
In the 31st minute, the Galaxy’s Andrew Perez scored off a corner to double the lead, taking advantage of one of the Claret-and-Cobalt’s few weak points to double the lead before half time.
Despite two late Galaxy red cards and a near-miss from Max Yanakaev, RSL-AZ U-15/16 were unable to get on the score sheet as the Galaxy took home the three points with the 2-0 win.
This weekend, Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16 return to Carson for the final round of Generations adidas Cup qualifying as they prepare to take on the LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders FC and the Portland Timbers.