Galaxy, FCD U-17s prepared for tight battle in GA Cup final

FRISCO, Texas – The final day’s schedule at the Generation adidas Cup was rounded out Saturday morning, as the U-15 MLS sides completed group play.

With the group winners advancing to Sunday’s U-15 championship, the New York Red Bulls and Chivas USA clinched spots in the first final at Pre-Academy level.

New York advanced by virtue of a 4-1 win that gave them top spot in Group B on a tie breaker after Seattle romped 8-1 against the Houston Dynamo. Group A winners Chivas made it three wins in three by defeating Columbus 2-0.

And while the U-15s will have their moment in the Texas sun, it’s the U-17 final that will be Sunday’s showpiece game. FC Dallas and the LA Galaxy will square off at Pizza Hut Park with top honors on the line.

LA’s core is led by a mixture of new arrivals, members of the U.S. Under-17 national team, and some of the guys who won the USSF Development Academy National Championship earlier in the month. But to beat Dallas will require another strong effort, the final one in what has been a long, ten-month season for the Galaxy’s U-17s.

“Dallas is a great team,” Galaxy head coach Kenny Arena said. “We’re just looking for another great game like we had [Friday], and showing how we like to play. Hopefully our character helps us get a win.”

Anchoring that opposition at the back is Richard Sanchez, a member of the Mexican U-17 national team that recently won the U-17 World Cup. He shutout D.C. United on Friday night, and he’s well aware of the threat posed by the LA side.

“It’s going to be a tough game, I know a couple players [on LA] so I know more or less how they can play,” Sanchez said.

And even if winning the Generation adidas Cup would not be on the same level as winning the World Cup, Sanchez is still eager to bring home the silverware for his club.

“This is a great tournament and we are playing at home, so to get this win would mean a lot,” he said. “We’re going to do our best to win the game.”