The Houston Dynamo U-18 team won the Dallas Cup U-19 bracket championship Sunday with a 1-0 win over IMG Soccer Academy at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.
One year after losing to IMG on penalty kicks in the final, the Dynamo got a second-half goal from Matt Kirby to take the title. Houston went 5-0-1 in the tournament and outscored opponents 15-2 during the week. The tie came in the semifinals, with Houston winning a shootout to advance.
Kirby (Beaumont Monsignor Kelly / Texans) scored in the 65th minute on a goal described by Dynamo Director of Youth Development James Clarkson:
"Matt Kirby won the ball just inside our half, burst through the middle and beat three players with skill and speed, then slotted the ball past the goalkeeper."
The Dynamo could not add to their lead but held on to win the tournament title with the 1-0 triumph. Clarkson was especially proud of his team considering its youth; competing in a U-19 bracket, the Dynamo had five U-18 players, eight U-17 players, four U-16 players and one U-15 player.
