Group stage complete at U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs
(Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s U-15/16 and U-17/18 Playoffs concluded in Frisco, Texas this past Sunday. From June 22-26, 32 of the best youth clubs in the U.S. faced off in each age group to advance to the Academy Knockout Rounds. The Academy Playoffs field was determined through 21 automatic qualification spots and 11 wild card berths over the course of the 2015-16 season.
The Knockout Round features the top sixteen teams that won their respective age group’s Playoffs group (eight per each age group).
+Read: Development Academy U-15/16, U-17/18 Playoffs Day 2 Recap
Heading into the Playoffs, teams were seeded 1-32 based on their regular season record. The four highest seeded teams in each respective age group will host the Knockout Round games. All games will be played across the country on July 6th and 7th.
U-15/16 Knockout Round Matchups (7/6/2016)
FC Dallas v Real Salt Lake AZ
Weston FC v Chicago Fire
LA Galaxy v Real So Cal
Real Colorado v FC Golden State
U-17/18 Knockout Round Matchups (7/7/2016)
FC Dallas v Sporting Kansas City
Vancouver Whitecaps FC v Sacramento Republic FC
Philadelphia Union v Players Development Academy
Real Salt Lake AZ v Nomads SC
In the 2014-2015 season, FC Dallas lifted the trophy over New York Red Bulls in the U-15/16 age group, and that same group will now compete in the U-17/18 Knockout Round with hopes of defending their title in the Championships. Chicago Fire defeated Real Salt Lake in the U-17/18 age group. Both clubs have reached the Academy Knockout Round again in 2016-17.
The final day of Academy games contained plenty of drama and excitement, which was heard around Toyota Soccer Center. Clubs showed great support for their fellow teammates amongst different age groups and even supported some fellow divisional Academy clubs.
Winners of each game highlighted in bold, group winners highlighted in red.
Day 3 U-17/18 results:
Group A
Vardar 2 – Chargers Soccer Club 3
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 – LA Galaxy 1
Group A was decided by two Major League Soccer clubs: Vancouver Whitecaps and LA Galaxy. Vardar and Chargers lost their first two games, eliminating them from contention. Going into the final Playoffs game, LA only needed a draw to advance despite Vancouver’s higher seeding in Group A. Although LA pushed numbers forward and desperately searched for an equalizer, Vancouver managed to maintain their lead in a heated game. Vancouver will host Sacramento Republic FC in the Knockout Round.
Group B
North Carolina Fusion 1 – Seattle Sounders FC 5
Houston Dynamo 2 – Real Salt Lake AZ 2
RSL AZ stood atop the group with six points, with Houston and Seattle trailing right behind them with three each. Houston and Seattle both needed wins if they were to have a shot at advancing. Seattle did their part, putting five goals past the Fusion, hoping Houston would beat RSL AZ so they could win the group on goal differential. Despite some late heroics from Houston, RSL AZ could not be beat and held the draw to advance to the Knockouts.
Group C
Sacramento Republic FC 4 – Pateadores 2
New York Red Bulls 3 – Sockers FC 1
Going into the final game, Sacramento, New York, and Sockers all had a shot at winning the group. Sockers needed a win and for Sacramento to lose or draw. New York and Sacramento both needed to beat each other on goal differential. Red Bulls managed to put away Sockers, giving them three points and three goals towards goal differential. Sacramento also gained three points tying with Red Bulls at the top of the group on points and goal differential. Sacramento advanced based on the number of goals for in the group, where Sacramento had 8 and Red Bulls had 7..
Group D
Chicago Magic PSG 2 – Players Development Academy 2
Montreal Impact FC 0 – Arsenal FC 0
Group D was up for grabs on day three. Chicago Magic PSG and PDA played to a tough 2-2 draw that sent PDA to the top of the group with five points, eliminating the Chicago side. The winner of the group could have been decided by the winner of Montreal and Arsenal, but it ended scoreless. The game was wide open for the taking all 90 minutes long, and both sides pressed hard to get on the scoreboard In the 90thminute, Montreal was awarded a penalty, but missed, eliminating both teams PDA advanced to the Knockout Round and will be hosted by Philadelphia Union.
Group E
FC Dallas 5 – Orlando City SC 0
D.C. United 2 – Shattuck-Saint Mary’s 1
D.C. United knew they had to win and win big if they were to advance on goal differential past Dallas, should Dallas have lost. United only won 2-1 and Dallas won big. The local team got the scoring started in the 12th minute and didn’t look back, shutting out Orlando 5-0 to top the group with all nine points, scoring 12 goals and only allowing two.
Group F
Crew SC Academy Wolves 4 – Texas Rush 4
Nomads SC 3 – Georgia United 2
No one was eliminated to start the day in Group F. Texas Rush and Georgia United both needed wins to have a chance at moving on. Wolves and Nomads needed to at least have the same result as each other and beat each other on goal differential to advance. Wolves would tie, leaving the door open for Nomads, who took advantage and gained all three points against Georgia United to win the group.
Group G
Philadelphia Union 3 – Kendall SC 4
Chicago Fire 5 – Beachside SC 2
Everyone but Beachside was still alive in Group G on day three. Chicago Fire would defeat Beachside 5-2, creating a +2 goal differential on top of their six points to tie Philadelphia. If Kendall SC beat the Union, the Fire would have a chance at advancing. Kendall SC went up 4-2 against Union, and if that result held, the Fire would have advanced on goals for. In stoppage time, Philadelphia scored to make it 4-3, propelling them into the Knockout Round. Although the Union lost 4-3, they advanced on goal differential over the Fire and Kendall SC.
Group H
BW Gottschee Academy 2 – Capital Area RailHawks -CASL 3
Sporting Kansas City 6 – San Jose Earthquakes 1
The most unexpected results of the day occurred in Group H. Both San Jose and RailHakws – CASL were eliminated on Friday, so either Gottschee or Kansas City would win the group. It was almost certain that Gottschee would advance after going up 2-0 in the first half and considering their large goal differential in the group. But, the tide turned and RailHakws – CASL scored three goals to win 3-2, leaving Gottschee’s fate in the hands of Kansas City and San Jose. If Sporting were to win the group, they would have to beat the Earthquakes by at least four goals. Sporting KC would score and score and score again, winning 6-1 over San Jose, putting them ahead of Gottschee on goal differential and into the Knockout Round.
Day 3 U-15/16 results:
Group A
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 – Philadelphia Union 2
Real Salt Lake AZ 4 – Kendall SC 0
Heading into the final day, only Kendall SC was eliminated. Both Philadelphia and Vancouver needed RSL AZ to lose to have any chance of advancing. The Union would do their part, winning 2-1, earning a total of seven points in the group. RSL AZ won as well, finishing with seven points. RSL AZ advanced with a +6 goal differential, beating the Union’s +2.
Group B
Sockers FC 1 – FC Golden State 1
BW Gottschee Academy 1 – Seattle Sounders FC 4
On day three, Group B’s top spot was up for grabs between Sockers, Golden State, and Seattle. The Sounders won 4-1, but it wasn’t enough to best Golden State, who only needed a draw to advance with seven points.
Group C
FC Dallas 3 – Capital Area RailHawks – CASL 1
Chicago Magic PSG 2 – D.C. United 3
FC Dallas went into day three on top of Group C, needing either a win or a draw to advance. Dallas secured their position with a win against RailHawks – CASL to advance to the Knockout Round. D.C. United would defeat already-eliminated Chicago Magic PSG, but their six points were not enough to beat Dallas’ nine.
Group D
Real So Cal 1 – Sacramento Republic FC 1
Crew SC Academy Wolves 0 – Montreal Impact FC 3
Montreal was eliminated before day three, but they showed up to their last match determined to win, defeating the Wolves 3-0 and keeping them from advancing. Sacramento and Real So Cal would play to a thrilling draw, with Sacramento handily winning Group D with seven points and moving on to the Quarterfinals.
Group E
New York Red Bulls 2 – Chicago Fire 0
Strikers FC 2 – IMG Academy 2
Going into the final day, both IMG and New York knew they were eliminated, but that didn’t stop them from giving Chicago Fire and Strikers great games. IMG tied Strikers and New York defeated Chicago, but the Fire stayed atop the group with six points, besting Strikers’ four.
Group F
Crew SC Academy 1 – Orlando City SC 0
Real Colorado 0 – San Jose Earthquakes 0
Both Crew and Orlando were eliminated before the day started, but Crew wasn’t going to lay down and admit defeat. They would defeat Orlando 1-0. The 5:00pm U-15/16 Feature Game was between Real Colorado and San Jose, the two teams at the top of Group F. San Jose needed a win to advance, but. the Earthquakes dominated possession and played strong defensively as soon as they lost the ball. Real Colorado only needed a draw to win Group F, and they managed to keep the game a scoreless draw. Real Colorado advance to the Knockout Round and will host FC Golden State.
Group G
LA Galaxy 2 – New England Revolution 1
Georgia United 1 – Sporting Kansas City 3
Sporting KC and Georgia United both needed a win and the Galaxy to lose for either to move on. Although KC pulled away from United and earned all three points, it wasn’t enough to best LA’s lead in Group G. LA would outlast New England 2-1, who played LA tough to the last-minute even though they were already eliminated. LA will host Real So Cal in the Knockout Round.
Group H
Crossfire Premier 4 – Pateadores 0
Weston FC 3 – Oakwood Soccer Club 3
Going into day three, Group H was wide open and all teams had a shot at advancing. . Pateadores and Weston went into the day tied at the top of the group on four points, with Pateadores leading on goal differential. Both would need the other to lose, or beat the other on goal differential to advance. Crossfire Premier wasn’t ready to admit defeat, scoring four goals on Pateadores, hoping it would be enough to send them through. If Weston FC were to lose, Crossfire was likely to advance. However, Weston would draw Oakwood in a back-and-forth six-goal thriller, sending Weston into the next round with five points.
