The Houston Dynamo Academy U-18 team will play in the final of the U-19 bracket of the Dallas Cup for the second consecutive year after winning a shootout over Dallas Texans Red on Saturday. The Dynamo will face IMG Soccer Academy at 3 p.m. Sunday. Last year, the Dynamo lost the final on penalty kicks.
This year, the Dynamo used penalty kicks to advance to the final after a 2-2 tie with Dallas Texans Red Saturday morning. Carlos Recinos (Houstonians / Cy Ridge), Mitchell Cardenas (The Woodlands College Park / Texas Rush) and Jorge Escobar (Fort Bend Hightower / Eclipse) scored in the shootout, and goalkeeper Pat Wall (Strake Jesuit / Eclipse) lived up to his name by making two saves as the Dynamo won the shootout, 3-1.
The regulation contest was just as dramatic. Trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Dynamo equalized early in the second half through an outstanding solo effort from Christian Cruz (Houstonians). Recinos came close to giving Houston the lead late in regulation, but a big save forced overtime.
In extra time, Recinos scored to give Houston the lead, but the Texans rallied to score with just two minutes remaining, sending the game to a shootout. The two goals scored were the first allowed by the Dynamo in their five games of the tournament.
The Dynamo will face IMG Soccer Academy at 3 p.m. Sunday in the main stadium at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.
