Dallas Cup: River Plate edge U.S. U-20s as Latin America shines on final Sunday

DALLAS, Texas – The 35th Dr Pepper Dallas Cup concluded Sunday with River Plate besting the U.S. Under-20 National Team in the final of the Gordon Jago Super Group, a rematch of an opening day contest.

Also decided were the champions of the U17, Super 17s, and U19 age groups. Including yesterday’s final matches, the eight Dr Pepper Dallas Cup age group Champions are represented by five countries: USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Argentina.

Gordon Jago Super Group

The final game of Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXV, was a rematch of last Sunday’s opening-day marquee game, which saw the U.S. Men’s U-20 National Team come from behind to defeat River Plate.  This time it was the motivated club from Buenos Aires who scored first, when Lucas Boye’s determined effort resulted in a goal. A pair of weather delays forced the teams to seek shelter at halftime and again in the 65^th minute.

With the U.S. pressing for the tying goal, Boye made his presence felt again in the 83^rd minute when he found a way to get a shot off in between three U.S. defenders and sealed the 2-0 victory for River Plate. The Argentines were able to hold off the U.S. U20s for the final minutes of the match and were justly crowned the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXV Gordon Jago Super Group Champions.

U-19 division

The Costa Rican Under-19 National Team defeated Liverpool FC Foundation College to win the U19 Championship, 1-0.  The Costa Ricans set the tone throughout the game, and could have scored more if not for a well-organized Liverpool defense.  The goal came in the 24^th minute when Costa Rica forward, Jeffry Montenegro, was able to poke a loose ball across the goal line for the game’s only goal. Liverpool FC battled hard to keep it close, and took their chances on counter-attacks and set-pieces, but was unable to find the back of the net.

Super 17s

The Super 17s, created this year in celebration of Dallas Cup’s 35^th anniversary, featured two Mexican sides, Club America and CF Monterrey, vying for the inaugural championship. Club America scored first in the 33^rd minute as Eduarth Soria’s searching cross into the box skipped past the screened Rayados goalkeeper and into the net for a 1-0 lead.  A breakaway six minutes later and rocket of a shot in the 58^th increased America’s lead to 3-0. Monterrey was able to get a consolation goal in the 80^th minute, but it was not enough as Club America lifted the first Super 17s trophy.

U-17 division

This game guaranteed a local champion would be crowned as FC Dallas Premier met a familiar foe in FC Dallas Gold. After a scoreless first half, FC Dallas Gold started the second half with two goals four minutes apart. Osvaldo Veloz put away a 56^th minute penalty kick and, in what could be the goal of the Championship weekend, Dominick Faletto’s nifty bicycle kick in the 60^th minute gave FC Dallas Gold a 2-0 lead.

FC Dallas Premier’s Sergio Lara scored from the penalty kick spot in the 66^th minute, but FC Dallas Gold answered with a first-time shot from Cisse Abdoulaye in the 80^th to make things 3-1. Things got interesting when FC Dallas Gold suffered an own goal in stoppage time. FC Dallas Premier’s final desperation cross into the box found its mark, but was redirected right at Gold’s keeper, to keep the score line 3-2 in favor of FC Dallas Gold.

Next year’s edition, Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXVI, will be held March 29 through April 5, 2015.