Dr Pepper Dallas Cup Crowns Its 35th Anniversary Champions after Exciting Competition
FC Dallas, Club America, Costa Rica National Team, and River Plate win Iconic Boot and Ball Trophy
The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, the most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States, concluded on Sunday, April 20, with River Plate besting the U.S. U20 National Team in the rematch of the opening day contest. Also decided were the champions of the U17, Super 17’s, and U19 age groups. Including yesterday’s final matches, the eight Dr Pepper Dallas Cup age group Champions are represented by five countries: USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Argentina.
Gordon Jago Super Group
The final game of Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXV was a rematch of last the opening day marquee game on April 13, which saw the U.S. Men’s U20 National Team come from behind to defeat Argentina’s River Plate. This time it was the motivated club from Buenos Aires who scored first, when Lucas Boye’s determined effort resulted in a goal. A pair of weather delays forced the teams to seek shelter at halftime and again in the 65th minute.
With the U.S. pressing for the tying goal, Boye made his presence felt again in the 83rd minute when he found a way to get a shot off in between three U.S. defenders and seal the 2-0 victory for River Plate. The Argentines were able to hold off the U.S. U20s for the final minutes of the match and were justly crowned the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXV Gordon Jago Super Group Champions.
Under 19
The Costa Rican Under-19 National Team defeated Liverpool FC Foundation College to win the U19 Championship, 1-0. The Costa Ricans set the tone throughout the game, and could have scored more if not for a well-organized Liverpool defense. The goal came in the 24th minute when Costa Rica forward Jeffry Montenegro was able to poke a loose ball across the goal line for the game’s only goal. Liverpool FC battled hard to keep it close, and took their chances on counter-attacks and set-pieces, but were unable to find the back of the net.
Super 17’s
The Super 17’s, created this year in celebration of Dallas Cup’s 35th anniversary, featured two Mexican sides, Club America and CF Monterrey, vying for the inaugural championship. Club America scored first in the 33rd minute as Eduarth Soria’s searching cross into the box skipped past the screened Rayados goalkeeper and into the net for a 1-0 lead. A breakaway six minutes later and rocket of a shot in the 58th increased America’s lead to 3-0. Monterrey was able to get a consolation goal in the 80th minute, but it was not enough as Club America lifted the first Super 17’s trophy.
Under 17
This game guaranteed a local champion would be crowned as FC Dallas Premier met a familiar foe in FC Dallas Gold. After a scoreless first half, FC Dallas Gold started the second half with two goals four minutes apart. Osvaldo Veloz put away a 56th minute penalty kick and, in what could be the goal of the Championship weekend, Dominick Faletto’s nifty bicycle kick in the 60th minute gave FC Dallas Gold a 2-0 lead.
FC Dallas Premier’s Sergio Lara scored from the penalty kick spot in the 66th minute, but FC Dallas Gold answered with a first-time shot from Cisse Abdoulaye in the 80th to make things 3-1. Things got interesting when FC Dallas Gold suffered an own goal in stoppage time. FC Dallas Premier’s final desperation cross into the box found its mark, but was redirected right at Gold’s keeper, to keep the score line 3-2 in favor of FC Dallas Gold.
Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXVI will be March 29 through April 5, 2015.
About Dr Pepper Dallas Cup: Dr Pepper Dallas Cup is the most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States, celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2014. Dallas Cup consists of eight age groups from U13 to U19 and entertains on average more than 100,000 spectators during the week. Since its inception in 1980, Dallas Cup has hosted teams and referees from across 47 states, six continents and more than 100 countries. Follow Dallas Cup on Twitter, Facebook and on Instagram.
