It was a busy day in the Lone Star State as once again all three Academy teams were in action at both the Dallas and Generation adidas Cup.
Dallas Cup
The morning started with the U-16s taking on CZ Elite from California at MoneyGram Park. The Reds opened the scoring as Julian Altobelli curled home a beautiful free kick from 30-yards out.
Altobelli scored his second of the game just 5 minutes later as he slipped in behind the CZ backline and tucked home his brace.
The wind in Dallas picked up in the second half and the Reds battled the elements going forward.
However, the other Julian on the team got on the scoresheet late in the second half as the Reds hit on the counter. Julian Accettola tucked home his third in just two games and Elias Himaras stood tall in the Reds net to hold on for the 3-0 victory.
The U-16s sit atop of their group with 6 points and close out their Dallas Cup group stage against Mexican side Regios FC on Wednesday at 4:00 PM. Regios are 1-0-1 and sit in second place in Group G.
Just two fields over Toronto FC III battled English giants Manchester United in their second Gordon Jago Super Group match.
The early part of the match was spent mainly in the midfield as both teams worked their way into the game.
The match altering moment came in the 32nd minute as United’s D’Mani Mellor went high on a challenge on Dante Campbell. Mellor was shown a straight red card and the Reds were put up a man with just under two-thirds of the game left.
With the advantage, TFC III threw numbers forward and created some good looks going forward. Shaan Hundal had a great chance as he got in one on one with the United keeper but Hundal’s effort was stopped by Matej Kovar.
Steffan Yeates had another great chance as he made a run into the 18 and had a cross land at his feet but his shot was blocked and then cleared well by United.
After withstanding the Reds attack, the Red Devils took advantage of a slight chance in the 85th and hit on the counter. The ball was slipped into the 18 to an unmarked attacker who slotted the ball past Gianluca Catalano for the opening goal.
The Reds had a last-gasp free-kick chance but it was cleared by United as they held on for the 1-0 victory.
TFC III is back in action on Wednesday at 2:00 PM as they face Tigres. The Reds will need a win over the Mexican side to have a shot of advancing out of the group stage.
Generation adidas Cup
The final game of the day took place in Frisco as the Toronto FC Academy U-17 team took on Argentine side River Plate at the Generation adidas Cup.
The Reds came into the match needing a win over River Plate and a D.C. United win over Eintracht Frankfurt to win the group.
The Reds struck first courtesy of Antonio Carlini. TFC hit on the counter as Theo Corbeanu rushed down the right wing before sending a ball over to Carlini at the top of the 18. The midfielder fired home a low shot past the River keeper.
Shortly after River Plate equalized off a corner as Spencer King punched the ball out but a River player headed the ball over the top of King and a few Reds defender into the back of the net.
King made an incredible reaction stop just before the halftime whistle as he dove to his right to deny River Plate.
Both teams traded chances in the second half but it was River Plate who took the lead as they hit in the 68th minute.
TFC fought back to tie it as substitute Ryan Robinson’s shot took a deflection off Jacen Russell-Rowe to knot the game up.
In the GA Cup, all draws are settled by penalty kicks. After the first five kicks, both teams were tied with three. Corbeanu, Jacen Russell-Rowe and Robinson all hit for the Reds.
In the extra rounds, Themi Antonoglou and Ijah Halley each scored but River plate answered both times. Alex Krakowiak-Castro’s effort was stopped and the River Plate keeper stepped up to convert past King.
The Reds finished the group stage in third place in Group A. They will face Real Madrid, AS Monaco, or Atlanta United FC in their placement match later this week.
