With the bracket stages of Dallas Cup in the rearview mirror, Friday offered a schedule of knockout soccer as the semifinals of the Super Group and quarterfinals of other age groups took place. Only a handful of MLS academies remained, each vying for a spot in the next round.
Tigres rout FC Dallas
After advancing to the Super Group semifinals with three straight wins, FC Dallas U-18 Academy team came up short against Mexican club Tigres, losing 5-0 in a rout at Pizza Hut Park.
The match started fairly even, with Home Grown player Bryan Leyva missing two quality opportunities to give FC Dallas the lead. Tigres’ Victor Garza eventually opened the scoring, beating FCD goalie Eduardo Cortes in the 31st minute.
Down 1-0 at the break, FC Dallas couldn’t keep up with Tigres in the second half. US U-20 midfielder Moises Orozco doubled the lead two minutes into the second half, and from there the Mexican side didn’t look back. Oscar Montoya scored in the 64th minute, and Tigres substitute Luis Castillo added a brace in the last 10 minutes to complete the rout and knock FC Dallas out.
Frankfurt oust Arsenal
Tigres' opponent in Sunday’s Super Group final will be Eintracht Frankfurt, who took down Arsenal 2-0. After sweeping through the Bracket stage, the Gunners couldn’t break with the Bundesliga’s organization at the back.
Not helping was the absence of Josh Rees and Luke Freeman, who had scored seven combined goals in the first three games. And when Frankfurt’s Okan Derici scored first for the Germans, Arsenal pressed in search of an equalizer.
But it never came. Emmanuel Frimpong’s shot from distance skipped wide right before the half, one of Arsenal’s best of the first stanza. With the lead, Frankfurt absorbed the pressure and looked to strike on the counter. In the 85th minute, Dustin Ernst scored to seal the win.
The Super Group final is scheduled for Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.
Dynamo, Real Salt Lake U-16s lose in quarterfinals
With each respective team’s U-18 side already out, both Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo had a U-16 team fighting for a semifinal spot. However, neither could come away with a victory on Friday, ending their involvement in Dallas Cup.
The Dynamo was tied 2-2 at the half against Estudiantos Tecos. But two minutes into the second half went down to ten men, and Tecos scored two goals in the last three minutes to knock Houston out.
Real Salt Lake lost a high scoring affair, dropping a 4-3 decision against Canadian side PTSC Timber Wolves.
