Red Bull Academy Update: June 30
U16s qualify for USDA Finals Week
U20s: The U20 Red Bulls improved to 6-0-1 in Super-20 League action with a 1-0-1 week. On Wednesday, June 24, goals from Tevin Jackson (Jersey City, NJ) and Georgi Chirgadzi (Brooklyn, NY) left the Red Bulls level with U20 Brooklyn Knights at 2-2. On Saturday, June 27, the U20s defeated U20 Parsippany SC, 2-1. Sam Archer (Springfield Garden, NY) pulled the Red Bulls even with a goal off a Steven Rose (South Orange, NJ) assist, after the U20s went down early in the match. Widner Saint Cyr (Irvington, NJ) gave the U20s the full three points with a long range blast from half field in the closing minutes of the match.
U18s: The Red Bull U18s did not play this week.
U16s: The Red Bull U16s advanced to Finals Week of the US Development Academy League, after winning their group at the USDA playoffs at the Bryan Park Soccer Complex in Greensboro, NC. Finals Week will be held at The Home Depot Center from July 10-17 with games to be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel.
In the first match of the USDA Playoffs the U16s got off a good start posting a convincing 4-0 win over U16 IMG Academy from Florida on Friday, June 26. Jon Gonzalez (Bloomfield, NJ) got the scoring started in the 21st minute on a pass from Sam Adjei (Newark, NJ). Victor Manosalvas (Clifton, NJ) doubled the lead in the 67th minute, converting from the penalty spot. Keith Francisco (New Rochelle, NY) made the score 3-0 off of a quickly taken free-kick from Bryan Gallego (Kinnelon, NJ), and CJ Lyle (Stanford, NJ) finished the game off, following up a Clint Caso (Kinnelon, NJ) shot. Travis Ives (Bridgewater, NJ) made several key saves to earn the clean sheet win.
In the second match of group play at the USDA Playoffs, the Red Bulls defeated U16 FC Westchester, 3-1, on Saturday, June 27. Oscar Gonzalez (Clifton, NJ) got the U16s on the board in the seventh minute, hitting a beautiful one-touch shot from 18 yards out off of a Manosalvas pass. FC Westchester leveled the score three minutes later off of a counter attack. The Red Bulls regained the lead just before half when Francisco scored off of a Christian Battistesa (South Bound Brook, NJ) pass in the 40th minute. Lyle provided an insurance goal for the second straight match, finishing a pass from Jon Gonzalez in the 69th minute.
Following a day off, the U16 Red Bulls met a fellow MLS Academy team in U16 Chicago Fire on Monday, June 29 to close out group play and with a Finals Week berth at stake. With both teams coming into the game 2-0, this would be the game that decided which side would win the group and would advance to the USDA Finals at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Due to the Goal Difference rule the Red Bulls needed a tie to advance to the finals.
The U16s came out well and controlled the pace of the game. In the 12th minute, Adjei collected a ball just past midfield, took a good first touch and fired a shot from 40 yards out that beat the Chicago Fire goalkeeper. The Red Bulls never looked back and limited the Chicago Fire to very few chances. Ives was again in goal for the shutout, his second of the tournament.
"I am very proud of the players," said U16 head coach Rob Elliott. "All of the guys contributed to the success of the weekend. We set several goals in the beginning of the year, such as winning the division, going undefeated at home, and making it to the finals in LA. We have achieved all of these goals so far and have one more goal; to win the championship. It will be an exciting time for the players and a good learning experience."
"The team played very intelligent football against three top class opponents in IMG Academy, FC Westchester and the Chicago Fire," said Red Bull Director of Youth Programs Bob Montgomery. "They are very excited about the trip to LA to compete for a National Championship."
The U16s record for the season now stands at 21-4-7 in all competitions.
The groups for Finals Week are:
Group 1: New York Red Bulls, Derby County Wolves, Chicago Magic AS Monaco, FC Dallas
Group 2: Cal Odyssey, Greensboro Youth Soccer, PDA, Washington Premier FC
The winner of each group will play for the National Championship on July 17, live on ESPNU.
1994/1995 Team: A group of 1994 and 1995 Red Bull Academy players took on the U14 US National Team on Tuesday, June 23, dropping a 2-1 decision. Fardeen Shiwany (Parsippany, NJ) converted a second half penalty kick for the Red Bull goal.
U15s: In a well played game on the road against U15 FC Westchester, the U15 Red Bulls dropped a 1-0 decision on Saturday, June 27 in US Club Northeast Pre Academy League. The U15's dominated stretches of the game, keeping possession, and creating chances in each half. Unfortunately, in the 60th minute a Red Bull defender slipped going to the ball in the penalty box, allowing FC Westchester's Andrea Radowich a clear path to goal.
"I thought it was unfortunate to give a goal like this but it happens," stated U15 head coach Stan Lembryk. "I still think we continue to play well and continue to improve."
U14s: On Saturday, June 27, the U14s defeated U14 FC Westchester, 4-1, in US Club Northeast Pre Academy League action. The Red Bulls managed the game with good combinations and efficiency in the final third, putting away every opportunity. FC Westchester pressed in the early going, leaving space for a long ball. The U14s took advantage of that space, as a Kit Alexieff (West Nyack, NY) pass found Nick Innocenzi (Franklin Lakes, NJ) to give the Red Bulls, an early, 1-0, lead. FC Westchester leveled the match at 1-1 after a free kick deflected off a defender and into the Red Bull goal. Arun Basuljevick (Mahopac, NY) put the U14s back in front after finding a cross from Rikuo Nakamoto (Waldwick, NJ). With FC Westchester pressing forward looking for the equalizer, a Clayton Taylor (Mendham, NJ) tally ran the score to 3-1 after a combination of passes from the back line culminated with Michael Kapitula (Clifton, NJ) setting up Taylor for the goal. In the closing minutes of the match, a Shane Kronick (Westfield, NJ) free kick was buried by Zachary Reed (Teaneck, NJ) to complete the scoring.
A LOOK AHEAD:
Wednesday, July 1
U14 Red Bulls vs. U14 Met Oval, 6:30 pm @ Rutgers-Newark (US Club Northeast Pre Academy League)
U20 Red Bulls vs. U20 New York Magic, 7:00 pm @ NJIT (Super-20 League)
U15 Red Bulls vs. U15 Met Oval, 8:15 pm @ Rutgers-Newark (US Club Northeast Pre Academy League)
