Development Academy: D.C. United’s U-16s can’t hold lead, plays to tie with FC DELCO
By Jimmy LaRoue
For the first time all season, D.C. United’s U-16s didn’t win.
However, it still hasn’t lost.
United, on the road, played FC DELCO to a 2-2 tie Saturday, getting early goals from Julian Cummings in the 19th minute and Graydon Hester 10 minutes later.
Cummings put away a bending Gerson Umana corner kick. Another corner from Umana led to United’s second goal from Hester.
FC DELCO, however, battled back on the strength of Tyler Skwara’s 38th minute goal, and a 69th minute goal from Grant Yu on a counterattack.
The tie puts United at 8-0-1 and still nine points ahead of co-second place FC DELCO and idle Baltimore Bays Chelsea, both at 5-1-1.
“We were happy that the boys were relentless with their offensive pressure, and were unfortunate to not finish some quality chances,” said U-16 Head Coach Tom Torres on the club’s website. “It was a little concerning how a couple of lapses occurred to concede goals, but it will give us plenty of coaching points for training this week before next week’s trip to New Jersey.”
The U-16’s will next take on the Players Development Academy U-16 team on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 2:30 p.m. in Zarephath, NJ.
United’s U-18s fell to FC DELCO 1-0, as George Tsirukis scored on a penalty kick in the 76th minute for the fifth time this season.
United’s Patrick Foss missed his own penalty kick in the first minute of the match, with the FC DELCO goalkeeper making the save. United was unable to convert first half chances in the physical encounter between the two teams.
“We started the match very strong, but missed on three good opportunities,” said U-18 coach Nolan Sheldon on the club’s website. “Credit to FC DELCO, they were disciplined on defense and worked very hard throughout the match. We needed to do a better job of breaking Delco’s press, but lacked the ability to keep the ball and possess. It was a disappointing loss, but we need to regroup for PDA next weekend.”
The U-18’s will next take on the Players Development Academy U-18’s on Saturday, November 17 at 12:00 p.m. at PDA Facility Field 3 in Zarephath, NJ.
On points, United is second with 19, three points behind 7-1-1 PA Classics, 1-0 winners over Potomac on the strength of a 33rd minute Zachary Herstek goal. Potomac went down to 10-men during the match on goalkeeper John Hollinger’s red card.
PA Classics also won the U-16 matchup against Potomac, 3-1. PA Classics took a 2-0 lead into halftime, and then the two teams’ exchanged goals in the 74th minute, with Potomac’s coming from Thomas Bernhardt-Lanier, his second of the season.
