CARSON, Calif. (Friday, March 30, 2012) – The LA Galaxy U-14 and U-15 Academy teams have gotten off to fantastic starts in the 2012 Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup XXXIII. Participating in the tournament for the first time, each team is a perfect 2-0-0 and in first place in their groups heading into their third game of the tournament on Wednesday.
The Dallas Cup is the oldest and most prestigious youth international tournament in the United States, with some of the best youth teams in the world annually participating. This year, Manchester United (England), Paris St. Germain (France), Everton (England), Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) and Tigres de Monterrey (Mexico) are among the participants, along with hundreds of teams from throughout the United States and around the world.
The Galaxy U-14’s have won their first two games in Dallas by a combined score of 11-1, beating Mexico’s Prepa Tec FB 5-1 and Brooklyn Italians 6-0. Dylan Bielanski and Zachary Kobayashi lead the team in scoring with three goals each. Their record of 2-0-0, with a goal differential of plus-10, is currently second best in the 32-team Boys Under-14 division. Despite their record, the Galaxy face a must-win situation on Wednesday when they take on FC Dallas Premier (2-0-0, goal differential of plus-12) at 2 p.m. Both teams are in Group E and only the team that wins the group advances to the quarterfinals.
The Galaxy U-15’s have also won both of their games for a perfect 2-0-0 record and a plus-seven goal differential heading into their final group game. They shutout Mexico’s Universidad de Monterrey 4-0 in their first game on Monday, then beat RGV Grandes FC 4-1 the following day. Alejandro Vergara leads the team with two goals, scoring twice in the win over RGV Grandes, while five other players have each recorded single tallies.
Currently tied for second place in the 24-team Boys Under-15 Division, the Galaxy take on the Dallas Texans Red (1-1-0, goal differential of zero) this Wednesday at 4 p.m., with first place in Group D all but assured. Only a loss of six goals or more would knock the Galaxy U-15's out of first place and keep them out of the U-15 quarterfinals.
Scores and match updates are available on www.dallascup.com and on twitter at www.twitter.com/dallascup.
GALAXY BEAT RAYO VALLECANO IN SPAIN: The LA Galaxy U-18’s collected an impressive 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano’s U-18’s in Spain Tuesday. Sebastian Velasquez set up the first goal and then scored the game-winner in the 90th minute. After Velasquez was fouled inside the box, Jack McBean gave the Galaxy an early 1-0 lead by converting a penalty kick in the 11th minute. After the Galaxy misfired on a couple of opportunities to put the game away, Vallecano came in the 88th minute to tie the game at 1-all. The euphoria of the equalizer was short lived, however, as Velasquez and Jaime Villarreal set up the game-winner right after the restart. The Galaxy U-18's are in Spain to take part in the Real Sociedad XXVII Youth Invitational Tournament. The match was the team’s tune-up match ahead of their first game in the tournament on Friday.
The Galaxy will play Osasuna on Friday, April 6, followed by Valencia on April 7 and Real Sociedad on Sunday, April 8. The winners of each group will meet for the tournament championship on Monday, April 9 at 2 a.m. PST.
For live match coverage from the trip, follow @adidasITP on Twitter.
McBEAN AND PAYERAS CALLED IN: LAGalaxy forward Jack McBean and Galaxy U-18 Defender Jeffrey Payeras have been called into the U.S. Under-20 National Team by head coach Tab Ramos for their upcoming camp in Portland, Ore. The camp will run from April 9-16 with the U.S. facing the University of Portland on Thursday, April 12 and then playing one additional game on Sunday, April 15 against a yet to be determined opponent.
McBean is currently in Spain with the Galaxy Academy, taking part in the Real Sociedad XXVII Youth Invitational Tournament. He scored a goal in LA’s lone exhibition game ahead of the start of that tournament, a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday. He will remain in Spain for the Galaxy’s three Group A games of that tournament before returning to the U.S. in time for the start of the U.S. U-20 camp.
Payeras, a native of Hawthorne, Calif., has appeared in 14 games for the Galaxy U-18’s in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy this season, helping the team to a 13-1-3 record in all competitions while allowing just 12 goals in those 17 games. He also made one appearance for the Galaxy in the Reserve League last season.
