July 18, 2012
DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY FINALS
SLSG, leads Group 2; Fire, Red Bulls atop group 1

HOUSTON--- St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri took the lead in Group two of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals week with a 3-0 victory against PA Classics. The Chicago Fire and New York Red Bulls, each 3-1 winners leaves the teams tied at the top of Group 1 with two games remaining.

DC UNITED 1, CREW SOCCER ACADEMY WOLVES 1
D.C. United gave up a late goal to Ollie Harris, which lifted the Crew Soccer Academy Wolves to a 1-1 draw in Group 2 action on Tuesday night at the 2011-12 Development Academy Finals Week at the Houston Amateur Sports Park.

D.C. United pulled ahead in the 26th minute through a Nigel Robinson goal, but was not able to see out the duration of the match, giving up the equalizer in the last minute after CSA Wolves made a desperate push in the closing minutes.

In the 80th minute, the ball broke for Harris who pounced on a missed clearance to stroke home the tying goal from 18 yards and deliver a draw.

ST. LOUIS SCOTT GALLAGHER 3, PA CLASSICS 0
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri’s U-15/16 team controlled from start to finish and erupted with three second-half goals on Tuesday night to beat PA Classics 3-0 in both teams’ opening match of Academy Finals Week at the Houston Amateur Sports Park.

SLSG Missouri’s Tommy Barlow, Mark Segbers and second-half sub Brett Hodges all found the back of the net as St. Louis took the lead in Group 2 after CSA Wolves and D.C. United drew 1-1 in the other match.

The best scoring chance for PA Classics was the team’s first shot on goal, when Joseph Julius struck from the right side in the 46th minute. His attempt was stymied by SLSG goalkeeper Jake Leeker, keeping the match scoreless before St. Louis’ offense got going approximately 10 minutes later. Leeker made two saves in collecting the shutout.

SLSG Missouri’s offense finally broke through the PA Classics defense, beginning with a penalty kick in the 55th minute by Barlow.

In the 59th minute, SLSG’s Segbers scored off a rebound from Keegan McHugh’s original strike. P

SLSG Missouri’s Hodges got into the scoring act during his 11 minutes on the field, pouncing on a rebound to increase the lead to 3-0 in the 76th minute.

SLSG Missouri faces the Crew Soccer Academy Wolves in their second Group 2 game at 8 p.m. CT on Thursday, July 19, and PA Classics takes on D.C. United at 8 p.m. on Thursday. Both games are at the Houston Amateur Sports Park.

CHICAGO FIRE 3, CHARLOTTE SOCCER ACADEMY 1
A goal just 19 seconds into the match and a second eight minutes later proved decisive as the Chicago Fire collected a comprehensive 3-1 victory against Charlotte Soccer Academy in their first match in the U-15/16 division at the 2011-12 Development Academy Finals Week.

Marcus Epps controlled the ball in the area and cut inside, ripping a skipping drive that Charlotte goalkeeper James Pyle parried back into play where Jeff Farina had stationed himself in search of a rebound. Farina struck low and hard, giving the Fire a dream start.

In the ninth minute Jeff Farina dropped into midfield to receive a pass. Spotting his strike partner on an exquisitely timed run, he played a beautifully weighted ball into the path of Epps. Alone with the goalkeeper, Epps slid the ball underneath Pyle and extended the lead to a pair.
Responding to the wake-up call, Charlotte breathed new life into the match two minutes later. Earning a corner kick from the right side, the delivery found Tomas Hilliard-Arce poised to power home a header from eight yards out.

Chicago settled matters in the 65th minute by taking advantage of a defensive miscue. A long clearance from the Fire end forced Pyle to come well off his line and with second-half substitute Anthony Smith pressuring, the goalkeeper misplayed the ball and left Smith with the simple task of shooting into the open goal.


NEW YORK RED BULLS 3, PANTEADORES 1
A second-half red card helped the New York Red Bulls gain the upper hand in a 3-1 win against Pateadores in Group 1 play of the U-15/16 division at the Development Academy Finals Week on Tuesday at the Houston Amateur Sports Park.

Pateadores midfielder Christian Carrillo was sent off with a straight red card eight minutes into the second half for a violent tackle and the Red Bulls capitalized on the opportunity, scoring two goals in the final 20 minutes of the match to finish the night in a tie for first place in Group 1 with the Chicago Fire. The Fire beat Charlotte Soccer Academy 3-1 in the other group match.

New York started the game with a goal in the opening 28 seconds. Alex Muyl flicked on a header into the path of forward Ismar Tandir, who delivered the ball to Adam Najem in front of goal for the opening tally.

A ninth minute penalty kick by Pateadores forward Brian Pacheco leveled the game.

Pateadores was able to withstand 13 minutes of seemingly ineluctable Red Bulls pressure following the red card, but the breakthrough finally came in the 61st minute when Muyl latched onto the end of an Amando Moreno long ball over the top of the defense. Muyl took a couple touches and slipped the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Brandon Gomez.

Two minutes after entering the match as a substitute, New York’s Vinny Brunetti scored the final goal for the Red Bulls in the 77th minute after second-half sub Wesley Wade found Brunetti with a pass into the penalty box.
New York plays group co-leader Chicago Fire on Thursday at 9 p.m. in a crucial match, while Pateadores.

Matches to be streamed
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.

The U-17/18 championship 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.