Real Salt Lake AZ wins U-15/16 Development Academy title with 4-2 victory over Solar Chelsea
HOUSTON – Real Salt Lake AZ’s Under-15/16 Development Academy team scored two late goals and defeated Solar Chelsea SC 4-2 at the 2012-13 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals Week Championship.
Justen Glad’s header goal in the 75th minute broke a 2-2 deadlock and Real Salt Lake AZ padded its lead in the closing minutes to claim the Major League Soccer-affiliated residency program’s first national championship.
Real Salt Lake AZ had a heavy possession-oriented game, but the club fell behind early.
Solar Chelsea got on the score sheet first when Alan Winn finished off of a Jordan Shankle throw-in from the right side in the 21st minute. Real Salt Lake AZ goalkeeper Luis Barraza appeared to have deflected the ball enough out of harm’s way, but it bounced past him and into the net for a 1-0 Solar lead.
Real Salt Lake AZ was quick to respond as Brooks Lennon finished from about eight yards out off of a Sebastian Saucedo cross to tie the score at 1-1 in the 24th minute.
The RSL duo again broke down Solar’s defense when Lennon set up Saucedo in the 36th minute, driving his shot past Barraza in the 36th minute to take a 2-1 advantage heading into halftime.
Solar’s attack improved in the second half and had a promising sequence in the 51st minute with two shots on goal, including a sharp Brock Dudley from the right side of the box that Barraza deflected away. Nathanael Rennhack eventually collected outside the box, but he did not strike the ball flush and Barraza had an easy save on the rolling shot.
Solar Chelsea’s persistence paid off when Bryson Asher tied the score at 2-2 in the 66th minute when he poked a Caleb Smith cross from the left side into the right of the goal, one-hopping the ground and crossing the goal line.
A pivotal moment came when Solar Chelsea’s Trevor Baum was issued a straight red card with a foul in the box. Lennon took the ensuing penalty kick in the 75th minute, shot toward the left side and Solar goalkeeper Isaac Linnabary dove to his right to make a clutch save.
Solar appeared to have eluded that scare, but on the following play, Glad scored on his header to take a lead that held up the rest of the way. Evan Waldrep had loads of space in front of him and scored off of another Lennon assist in the 78th minute, pushing Real Salt Lake AZ’s lead to 4-2.
Defensively, Barraza made five saves for RSL and Linnabary had three for Solar Chelsea. The second-place finish is Solar Chelsea’s best finish at Development Academy Finals Week.
-U.S. Soccer Development Academy Match Report-
Match: U-15/16 Development Academy Championship Match
Date: July 20, 2013
Competition: U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals Week
Venue: BBVA Compass Stadium – Houston, Texas
Kickoff: 6 p.m.
Attendance: 425
Weather: 80 degrees, overcast
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
SOL 1 1 2
RSL 2 2 4
SOL – Alan Winn (Jordan Shankle) 21st minute
RSL – Brooks Lennon (Sebastian Saucedo) 24
RSL – Sebastian Saucedo (Brooks Lennon) 36
SOL – Bryson Asher (Caleb Smith) 66
RSL – Justen Glad (Damian German) 75
RSL – Evan Waldrep (Brooks Lennon) 78
Lineups:
CHE: 12-Issac Linnabary; 2-Dorian Hernandez (16-Casey Collins, 77), 5-Trevor Baum, 10-Caleb Smith, 23-Zachary Stavrou; 4-Brock Dudley (capt.), 7-Bryson Asher (28-Daniel Carmona, 77), 17-Jordan Shankle, 18-Alan Winn; 9-Nathanial Rennhack, 11-Toryima Asom
Subs Not Used: 1-Chase Therrien, 6-Santiago Luna, 8-Blake Stricker 24-Alfonso Ochoa, 34-Ryan Applewhite
Head Coach: Adrian Solca/Kevin Smith
RSL: 88-Luis Barraza (18-Chase Bishov, 80); 26-Jason Eng (capt.), 58-Dillon Nino, 49-Justen Glad, 77-Diego Silva (59-Moises Rodriguez, 71); 85-Jack Gayton (48-Adam Ferguson, 80), 33-Adolfo Ovalle (30-Luis Lopez, 65), 21-Jose Hernandez (63-Josh Doughty, 61); 87-Damien German (32-Alxander Knox, 80), 50-Sebastian Saucedo (47-Evan Waldrap, 73), 29-Brooks Lennon
Subs Not Used: None
Head Coach: Freddy Juarez
Stats Summary: SOL/RSL
Shots: 15/19
Shots on Goal: 7/7
Saves: 3/5
Corner Kicks: 2/10
Fouls: 9/10
Offside: 2/3
Misconduct Summary:
SOL – Nathanial Rennhack (caution) 41st minute
RSL – Adolfo Ovalle (caution) 57
SOL – Trevor Baum (sent off) 74
Officials:
Referee: Timon Berry
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Velbis
Assistant Referee 2: Alexander Luttmann
Fourth Official: Bernhard Hosu
ussoccer.com Man of the Match: Brooks Lennon
