First set of Dr Pepper Dallas Cup semifinal matches kicking off today

DALLAS, Texas (Via Dallas Cup) – The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, the oldest and most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States, concluded group play on Wednesday in the Gordon Jago Super Group and Univision Deportes Super 14s determining which teams advanced to the semi-finals.

The Univision Deportes Super 14s semi-finals will be played Thursday at MoneyGram Soccer Park. The Gordon Jago Super Group semi-finals will be played on Friday at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. Tickets for Friday’s game are on sale now at www.dallascup.com.

Univision Deportes Super 14s Semi-Finals – Thursday, April 18

Gordon Jago Super Group Semi-Finals – Friday, April 19

Cross-town rivals CF Monterrey and Tigres are set to meet in the semi-finals for the third consecutive year. Rayados bested Tigres in 2017, but Tigres returned the favor in 2018. CF Monterrey is the club with the most Dallas Cup championships all-time, but they are still in pursuit of their first Super Group title. Defending Super Group champion Tigres has three Super Group championships, the most all-time (2003, 2011, 2018). The senior sides for CF Monterrey and Tigres are set to meet in the CONCACAF Champions League final later this month.

Villarreal CF and New York City FC is a battle of two domestic academy champions. Villarreal just recently clinched the Group VII title of La Liga’s Division de Honor, a feat they have achieved four out of the past five years. New York City FC is the current U18/U19 USSDA National Champion. The Yellow Submarinehopes to become the first Spanish Super Group champion since Real Madrid’s back-to-back titles in 1993 and 1994. New York City FC hopes to join FC Dallas (2017) and Dallas Texans (2006) as the only Super Group champions from the United States.

Gordon Jago Super Group – Wednesday Recap

Bracket A

At 2pm, Mexico’s Tigres faced off against New York City FC out at MoneyGram Soccer Park. The defending Super Group champions got off to a strong start thanks to a David Ayala goal in the 16^th minute. In the 36^th minute, Tigres’ Cesar Hernandez added a goal of his own making the score 2-0. Neither side was able to get on the score sheet in the second half as the final whistle blew with the score 2-0, securing Tigres a perfect group stage record and a spot in the semis.

The last Super Group game of the day took place between the Premier League’s Liverpool FC and South African side Ikapa United. Liverpool FC cruised to a big victory in this one with Neco Williams, Luis Longstaff, Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Bobby Duncan, and Jack Bearne getting on the scoreboard in the 5-0 win.

**Note: NYCFC advances to the semi-finals as the best second place finisher (goal differential)

Bracket B

At the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium, Toronto FC squared off against Arsenal FC at 10:00am. Arsenal went into halftime with a 2-1 lead after Alfie Matthews converted two goals from the penalty spot. The second half saw a flurry of goals from both sides. Folarin Balogun, who came on at the start of the second half, scored two goals in the 48^th and 85^th minute. Toronto FC’s Ayo Akinola bagged a brace of his own with goals in the 82^nd and 88^th minute to keep Toronto within striking distance. In total, there were eight goals scored after the halftime break, but the Gunners were able to hold on for a 6-5 result and their second win in group play.

The other Bracket B game was a nationally televised clash between CF Monterrey and Real Salt Lake on Univision Deportes Network. Needing a point in the standings to clinch a spot in the semi-finals, CF Monterrey got the scoring started after a well-played cross through the box found the foot of Diego Gonzalez, putting Rayados ahead 1-0. Real Salt Lake leveled the match in the 62^nd minute after Benjamin Ortiz tucked one away from the penalty spot. The final whistle blew with the game knotted at 1-1, securing CF Monterrey a spot in the semi-finals on Friday.

Bracket C

The 12:30pm game at the Cotton Bowl was a match between La Liga’s Villarreal CF and Liga MX’s Queretaro FC. Villarreal CF, who came into the match undefeated in group play, scored the first goal of the game in the 10^th minute. A perfectly placed cross connected with Carlo Garcia at the edge of the six-yard box who banged home the opening goal of the game. In the 77^th minute, Alejandro Baena carved his way through multiple Queretaro defenders and delivered a beautiful goal to put Villarreal a two goal lead. Queretaro pulled a goal back in the 89^th minute, but it was a little too late as The Yellow Submarine punched a ticket to the semi-finals.

The 3:00pm game from the Cotton Bowl was a matchup between local side FC Dallas and Red Bull Brasil out of São Paulo. In the 19^th minute, FC Dallas’ Jorge Almaguer put his team ahead with a brilliant right-footed finish from the edge of the box. Nearing halftime, the tides turned in favor of Red Bull Brasil thanks to a pair of goals by Luis Phelipe in the 41^st and 44^th minute. The Brazilian side expanded their lead to 4-1 in the second half before FC Dallas’ Johan Gomez clawed two late goals back before the final whistle blew with the score 4-3.