News & Features

2012 Development Academy Finals Week – Day 6

The 2011 U-17/18 Development Academy runner-up, FC Dallas, is back in the title game for a second straight year after a come-from-behind 3-2 win against Solar Chelsea SC on Friday night. FC Dallas will face Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which won Group 1 with seven points after a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids.

July 21, 2012

IN THE IMAGE: The U-15/16 teams prepare for their final group matches on Saturday, with the New York Red Bulls and St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri leading their respective groups by three points.

U.S. Soccer Development Academy
2011-12 Finals Week
Houston Amateur Sports Park; BBVA Compass Stadium
July 21, 2012

FC DALLAS AND VANCOUVER TO CONTEST U-17/18 CHAMPIONSHIP ON SUNDAY: 2011 U-17/18 Development Academy runner-up FC Dallas is back in the title game for a second straight year after a come-from-behind 3-2 win against Solar Chelsea SC on Friday night. FC Dallas will face Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which won Group 1 with seven points after a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids. The teams square off Sunday, July 22, at 8 p.m. CT at BBVA Compass Stadium. In the other placement games, Solar Chelsea SC goes for third place against North Carolina Fusion, a 2-1 winner against De Anza Force on Friday. The Fusion U-17/18 team features several players from last year’s U-15/16 sixth-place team. In the fifth-place match, Colorado squares off against Baltimore Bays Chelsea, while Chivas USA and De Anza contest the seventh-place game.

NEW YORK RED BULLS, SLSG MISSOURI LOOK TO CAPTURE TOP SPOTS: Leading their respective U-15/16 groups heading into the final day of group matches Saturday, the New York Red Bulls and St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri are in prime position to earn berths to the Development Academy championship match, which takes place Monday, July 23, at BBVA Compass Stadium. In Group 1, New York leads both the Chicago Fire and Pateadores by three points. The two teams chasing the Red Bulls square off against each other on Saturday. In addition to the three-point lead, the Red Bulls have plus-two advantage in goal differential on Chicago, and plus-three on Pateadores. New York faces potential spoiler Charlotte Soccer Academy, which is winless in two games. In Group 2, SLSG Missouri is ahead by three points and has a commanding lead in goal differential on PA Classics in second place. If SLSG Missouri loses against D.C. United, PA Classics must beat Crew Soccer Academy Wolves and make up a differential of eight goals to draw level with the frontrunner.

DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES TO BE STREAMED LIVE ON USSOCCER.COM: The 2012 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals Week championship matches on July 22 and 23 in Houston will be streamed live on ussoccer.com, giving fans the opportunity to view the most elite youth soccer games in the United States at the club level. The U-17/18 championship between FC Dallas and Vancouver Whitecaps FC takes place at 8 p.m. CT on Sunday, July 22, and the U-15/16 championship kicks off at 8 p.m. CT on Monday, July 23. Both title matches will be held at BBVA Compass Stadium, the new home of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo.

IN THE ACADEMY: PLAYING UP : In the first episode of ussoccer.com’s “In the Academy” video series, players and coaches discuss the concept of “Playing Up,” where young players can challenge themselves by playing up in older age groups and set themselves up for more success as they look to build their careers. U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann speaks about how “Playing Up” can benefit a young player, while coaches and players in the Development Academy talk about the benefits they have seen on the field. Watch the video here.

DYNAMO DEFENDER SARKODIE IMPARTS PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE: Houston Dynamo defender Kofi Sarkodie spoke to players from the U-17/18 age group on Thursday. The 21-year-old Sarkodie talked about his path to becoming a professional soccer player, his time with the U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., and subsequent trip to the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. An NCAA College Cup champion in 2010, he also provided advice to the future college athletes about how to adjust to life as a player and a student. Read the full story at The YNT Blog.

TECHNICAL ADVISORS USE VIDEO TO PROVIDE PRO-LEVEL SCOUTING: Video analysis is an integral part of Development Academy Finals Week and the coaches and teams involved in the end-of-season event in Houston. Technical advisors are providing a professional-level scouting service, analyzing each match, providing video clips to show key plays and other critical areas, then present their findings to the coaching staffs. Read the full story at The YNT Blog.

FINALS WEEK GOALS: Be sure to check out the goals from the Development Academy Finals Week:
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |Day 4 | Day 5

FINALS WEEK SCHEDULE (home team listed first; times CT)
All games at Houston Amateur Sports Park

MONDAY’S RESULTS
U- 17/18 age group:
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4, North Carolina Fusion 1 - Match Report
De Anza Force 2, Colorado Rapids 2 - Match Report
FC Dallas 1, Chivas USA 1 - Match Report
Solar Chelsea SC 2, Baltimore Bays Chelsea 0 - Match Report

TUESDAY’S RESULTS:
U-15/16 age group:
New York Red Bulls 3, Pateadores 1 - Match Report
Chicago Fire 3, Charlotte Soccer Academy 1 - Match Report
Crew Soccer Academy Wolves 1, D.C. United 1 - Match Report
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri 3, PA Classics 0 - Match Report

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS:
U-17/18 age group:
Solar Chelsea SC 2, Chivas USA 0 - Match Report
FC Dallas 2, Baltimore Bays Chelsea 1 - Match Report
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4, De Anza Force 2 - Match Report
North Carolina Fusion 4, Colorado Rapids 2 - Match Report

THURSDAY’S RESULTS:
U-15/16 age group:
PA Classics 2, D.C. United 1 - Match Report
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri 4, Crew Soccer Academy Wolves 1 - Match Report
Pateadores 3, Charlotte Soccer Academy 1 - Match Report
New York Red Bulls 1, Chicago Fire 0 - Match Report

FRIDAY’S RESULTS:
U-17/18 age group:
North Carolina Fusion 2, De Anza Force 1 - Match Report
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1, Colorado Rapids 1 - Match Report
FC Dallas 3, Solar Chelsea SC 2 - Match Report
Baltimore Bays Chelsea 2, Chivas USA 0 - Match Report

SATURDAY’S GAMES:
U-15/16 age group:
New York Red Bulls vs. Charlotte Soccer Academy, 8 p.m.
Pateadores vs. Chicago Fire, 8 p.m.
Crew Soccer Academy Wolves vs. PA Classics, 9 p.m.
D.C. United vs. St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri, 9 p.m.

SUNDAY’S GAMES:
U-17/18 age group:
De Anza Force vs. Chivas USA, 9 a.m. CT (7th-place match, Houston Amateur Sports Park)
Baltimore Bays Chelsea vs. Colorado Rapids, 10 a.m. CT (5th-place match, Houston Amateur Sports Park)
North Carolina Fusion vs. Solar Chelsea SC, 5 p.m. CT (3rd-place match, Houston Amateur Sports Park)
FC Dallas vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 8 p.m. CT (Championship match, BBVA Compass Stadium)

FIVE ACADEMY PLAYERS HIGHLIGHT U.S. U-20 MILK CUP ROSTER: Showcasing the progress in the development of a strong relationship between the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and the U.S. Youth National Teams, five Academy players earned a spot on the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team that traveled to Northern Ireland on Monday in preparation for the Milk Cup. The U.S. faces Denmark (July 21) and Turkey (July 23) before a final placement game on July 26. (The YNT Blog)

2011-12 ACADEMY FINALS WEEK IN FOCUS: In the days leading up to Finals Week, the 16 participating teams (eight in each age group) were featured on ussoccer.com:

FINALS WEEK HISTORY: Entering the fifth anniversary edition of Finals Week, relive the previous championship matches with a run-down of Finals Week history and a primer on the tournament's format.

Academy Finals Week Rewind 2007-2011 | Finals Week Tournament Format

SOCIAL CONNECTION: Follow the U.S. Soccer Development Academy on the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Facebook page, Twitter@ussoccer_ynt and The YNT Blog.

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