Red Bull Academy Update: July 20
U20s qualify for Super-20 League Finals
U20s: The U20s completed the regular season of the Super-20 League with a pair of 5-0 wins. On Saturday, July 11, the U20s posted a 5-0 win over U20 FC Harlem before matching that score in a 5-0 win over U20 Ironbound FC on Friday, July 17. The Red Bulls compiled a 9-0-1 regular season record, and outscored their opponents by a 43-6 count. The team has qualified for the Super-20 League Finals for the fourth consecutive season, one of just two boys' teams to have reached the postseason every year.
"We are a team that is good in possession," said U20 head coach Rob Elliott. "Our guys have good feet and are comfortable with the ball. The core of this group has been together for some time. This will be their third finals for several guys like Steven Amaya, Anthony Vazquez and Mario Rios."
The Super-20 League Finals begin Thursday, July 30 at Sportscore II in Rockford, IL. The championship match will be played on Sunday, August 2 at 11:00 a.m.
U18s: The Red Bull U18s did not play this week.
U16s: The Red Bull U16s traveled to The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA last week to participate in the US Developmental Academy Finals Week. The Red Bulls got off to a tough start, dropping their first two group stage matches, but finished strong, defeating eventual champion U16 Derby County Wolves in the final match of group play before defeating Greensboro Youth Soccer in a placement match.
The eighth seed in the tournament, the U16s opened group play on July 11 against U16 Chicago Magic AS Manaco. The two sides battled evenly throughout the first half, with Chicago scoring in the 16th minute before Victor Manosalvas (Clifton, NJ) answered with a penalty kick on 25 minutes. Chicago scored early in the second half to break the tie, and added two late tallies as the Red Bulls pushed the attack to win the match, 4-1.
On July 13, the U16s took on U16 FC Dallas in the second of three group stage matches. Despite carrying play early, the Red Bulls could not generate dangerous chances, and U16 FC Dallas converted their opportunities to emerge with a 3-0 victory.
The final match of group play was held on July 15 as the Red Bulls took on Group 1 Winner and eventual USDA Finals Week champion Derby County Wolves. A determined U16 side got on the board first, as Oscar Gonzalez (Clifton, NJ) received a cross into the box, brought it down with his chest and hit a solid shot past the Derby County goalkeeper in the sixth minute. Just 40 seconds into the second half Clifford Lyle (Stanford, NJ) forced a turnover that gave him a clear line at goal. His one-time shot from a bouncing ball sailed straight into the net to double the Red Bulls lead on the way to a 2-0 victory. Travis Ives (Bridgewater, NJ) earned the clean sheet in net.
The Red Bulls posted a 3-1 win over U16 Greensboro Youth Soccer on July 17 in a placement match to end Finals Week on a high note.
The U16s held possession for most of the match, attacking seemingly at will. Manosalvas put the Red Bulls ahead in the 12th minute off a clever pass by Lyle. Holding the ball up at the top of the box, Lyle saw Manosalvas waiting on the side to run behind the defense. Lofting the ball over the defenders with a small chip, Manosalvas ran in behind them and beat the offside trap. Momentarily freezing in expectation of an offside call, the Greensboro defense allowed Manosalvas to walk in on goal, where he deftly chipped it over an onrushing goalkeeper.
David Najem (Clifton, NJ) doubled the lead just past the half hour, again off a Lyle pass. The Red Bulls put the game out of reach in the 47th minute on a textbook headed goal. Clint Caso (Kinnelon, NJ) found a jumping Brandon Adler (Montville, NJ) on the back post, and the defender made the finish look easy to put the U16s up 3-0. Following a late Greensboro tally, the Red Bulls maintained possession for long stretch to close out the match. Keith Cardona (Glen Rock, NJ) made five saves to earn the win in net.
U15s: The Red Bull U15s did not play this week.
U14s: The Red Bull U14s did not play this week.
A LOOK AHEAD:
Thursday, July 30 - Sunday, August 2
U20 Red Bulls @ Super-20 League Finals @ Sportscore II, Rockford, IL.
