SAN DIEGO – Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16 finished off a perfect weekend in dramatic fashion when an 82nd minute goal from Efren “Junior” Estrada gave the Claret-and-Cobalt a 1-0 on the last kick of the game against the San Diego Surf.

Nomads SC 0-5 Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-17/18

After a scoreless half hour in the weekend opener, Amar Sejdic broke open the game in the 35th minute, hitting a low cross to the far post to a waiting Brooks Lennon for a tap-in goal.

Three minutes later Edgar Duran added his name to the score sheet, firing an assist from Lennon to the far corner of goal for a 2-0 RSL-AZ lead at the half time break.

Danny Acosta set-up the third goal in the 54th minute, playing a long through ball from the back to Jose Hernandez, who then crossed into Sejdic for the third goal of the game.

In the 59th minute, a bad giveaway in the Nomads back line gifted Sejdic his second goal of the game. Paul Bin finished off Nomads 20 minutes later, rounding and finishing past the keeper with his first two touches of the game for the 5-0 final.

Nomads SC 0-1 Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16

Looking to jump back up the table in the race for the playoffs, RSL-AZ U-15/16 was in desperate need of a win against Nomads.

Despite a dominant first half in which RSL fired shot after shot at an overwhelmed Nomads keeper, the game entered half time all even at 0-0.

In the 65th minute, Erik “Gallo” Virgen took it upon himself to change the game, winning the ball in the Nomads half, earning a penalty kick and converting from the spot for the 1-0 lead.

A late save from David Preys kept the clean sheet intact at the Claret-and-Cobalt 16s held on for the 1-0 win.

San Diego Surf 0-1 Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-17/18

Forced to field a makeshift lineup due to a sudden illness afflicting a third of the team, the 18s grinded out a gritty win over the Surf to finish the weekend with a perfect record.

Much like the first goal against Nomads, Amar Sejdic crossed in to a waiting Brooks Lennon for the game-winning goal in the 32nd minute. The RSL-AZ defense held out for the remainder of the game to win all three points.

San Diego Surf 0-1 Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-15/16

In the final game of the weekend at James Madison High School, the Surf battled out a tough, physical game with RSL-AZ U-15/16 for 80 minutes of soccer.

However, in the 82nd minute Aristotle Zarris received the ball at midfield, turned, beat two Surf defenders and played Efren “Junior” Estrada through on goal. Estrada touched the ball past the Surf keeper and in for the goal as the referee sounded the final whistle.

After Sunday’s dramatic victory to end the weekend, Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy has the weekend off to prepare for their upcoming home game against Arsenal FC at 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 27th on Grande Sports World Field 7.

GDPR