Dallas Cup Super Group semifinals set for Toyota Stadium
(Via Dallas Cup) – The semifinalists for the Gordon Jago Super Group of the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, one of the top international youth soccer tournaments in the United States, have been set.
River Plate of Argentina, Coritiba of Brazil, and Monterrey Rayados of Mexico have advanced as the three bracket winners. English side Everton FC earned the wildcard spot as the best second place finisher, squeaking past the U.S. Developmental Academy of Real Salt Lake and Ryutsu-Keizai University from Japan.
The Gordon Jago Super Group semifinals is familiar territory for these four teams. River Plate is the current defending champions. Everton made it to the semifinals the last time they participated in 2012. Monterrey has won the most Dallas Cup Championships and made it to the 2010 Super Group final, while Coritiba has made it to the semifinals three out of the last four years.
The four semifinalists will play this Friday, April 3 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Everton will face Coritiba at 6:00pm, while defending champion River Plate goes against Monterrey at 8:00pm.
In Wednesday’s action, River Plate was assisted by an early red card against the LA Galaxy to earn a convincing 7-0 victory. The win left a three-way tie at the top of Bracket A, as River Plate, Everton FC and Ryutsu-Keizai University, all finished with 6 points in the standings. River finished first due to their +7 goal differential. Since Everton and Ryutsu-Keizai University both ended with +3 goal differential, the head-to-head tie breaker was used, giving Everton the advantage based on their 2-0 victory earlier in the day.
Coritiba defeated Valencia 5-0 at the Cotton Bowl to go undefeated in group play and secure first place in Bracket B. Coritiba scored 11 goals, and at least three goals in each game, while only conceding two.
In the final group-play game of the Gordon Jago Super Group, Monterrey held on for a bracket clinching 2-2 tie over Corinthians. Corinthians came back twice from one goal deficits but were unable to secure a win and were eliminated.
