USSDA Winter Showcase: Dallas Texans U-17/18 plays NE Revolution to 3-3 draw
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Florida (Via U.S. Soccer) – A back-and-forth affair saw Jackson Morse score a stoppage time equalizer as the Dallas Texans U-17/18’s drew 3-3 with the New England Revolution U-17/18’s in one of Thursday’s opening matches of the 2015 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase on Dec. 3.
After controlling play in the early moments of the match, it took just five minutes for the Revolution U-17/18 side to find the back of the net as Justin Rennicks one-timed a cross from the right just inside the back post in the fifth minute.
Dallas Texans nearly found the equalizer 10 minutes later as Justin Segura slotted Malik Key towards the end line on the left. Key collected, but was thwarted by Revs ‘keeper William Sinibaldi who bravely took the ball off his foot in the 15th minute.
New England would double their lead in the 21st minute. Following a scramble in the Dallas goal box, the ball popped out to Revolution midfielder Max Diamond who blasted a 25-yard effort past Texans ‘keeper Benjamin Blessing.
Down two goals, the Texans began their comeback in the 28th minute when Dominick Hernandez’s free kick from just outside the penalty area curled inside the top left corner, reducing the deficit to one goal heading into halftime.
Dallas would pull level nine minutes after the interval when John Wynia played Malik Key behind the back line on the left. With his back to goal, Key gathered the ball before turning on a dime and tucking his shot inside the top right corner to equalize in the 54th minute.
The Texans nearly completed the comeback in the 68th minute when Hernandez danced along the endline on the left before scooping the ball to an unmarked Key at the top of the six-yard box. Key’s snap header was well placed for the go-ahead goal, but was brilliantly pawed away by Revs ‘keeper Sinibaldi to keep things level.
While momentum swung towards Dallas, it would be the Revolution that found the go-ahead goal as Izaiah Jennings was slipped into the area where he slotted his low effort to the left corner in the 82nd minute.
Dallas nearly equalized again four minutes later when Derek Smith played Key through alone on goal. The tall Texans striker was once again met by Sinibaldi who came bravely off his line to block the first attempt. Key regained the rebound, but Sinibaldi stood tall to turn the second effort out for a corner kick.
With it looking like the Revolution would run out with three points, Dallas pushed everyone forward for a last-gasp corner kick. Texans’ winger Jose Barragan’s take skipped through the penalty area where Jackson Morse headed home the late equalizer to give both teams a share of the spoils.
With the result, New England Revolution U-17/18s move to 4-5-4 and Dallas Texans U-17/18s move to 5-2-2 on the 2015-16 Development Academy season.
