CARSON, Calif. (Friday, June 27, 2014) – The LA Galaxy Under-16 team finished undefeated and on top of Group D of the 2013-14 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs after earning an impressive 3-0-0 record and advancing to play a knockout quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday, July 8 against Michigan’s Vadar U-16 squad at StubHub Center. The winner of the quarterfinal game will advance to Finals Week at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, July 17-19.
The LA Galaxy Academy U-16 opened their Academy Playoff run on Tuesday by taking down the Sockers FC U-16 with a 4-1 win at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indiana. Galaxy U-16 midfielder Rey Ortiz found the net in the 19th minute to grab the initial lead for the Galaxy U-16’s. In the 52nd minute, Sockers FC buried an equalizer, but less than five minutes later, Galaxy U-16 forward Dylan Smith’s goal regained Galaxy’s lead. In the 59th minute, Ortiz completed his brace and defender Alex Ramos added the final goal to seal LA Galaxy U-16’s 4-1 victory.
The Galaxy Academy U-16’s played their second group stage match of the USSDA Academy Playoffs against Concorde Fire on Wednesday as goals by Smith, Ramos and Ortiz propelled the Galaxy U-16’s to a 3-0 win. In their third and final game of the group stage on Friday morning, a 1-0 result against D.C. United U-16 secured qualification to the next round. As the top finisher in Group D with nine points, Galaxy U-16 will now host the quarterfinal matchup against Vadar on July 8 at StubHub Center.
LA GALAXY ACADEMY UNDER-18 TEAM ELIMINATED FROM U.S. SOCCER ACADEMY PLAYOFFS: The LA Galaxy’s U-18 team only lost one game during the group play of the US Development Academy Playoffs, but that was not enough as they failed to advance to the Finals Week after losing 3-2 to the Montreal Impact in their final match.
Broken up into eight groups of four teams, only the group winners advanced out of the initial stage and Ante Razov’s squad started the tournament strong. The team opened the tournament by shutting out Real Colorado U-18’s 1-0 going down a man. Galaxy U-18 forward Adonis Amaya continued to show his goal scoring ability by tallying his 25th goal in 26 appearances in the 23rd minute of the victory.
A day later, LA Galaxy U-18’s earned a dominating 4-1 victory against Chicago Magic PSG U-18 to pull in poll position to qualify for Finals Week. Chicago took the lead in the sixth minute, however, LA quickly retaliated seconds later with a goal by Christian Chavez before Jaime Villarreal put the Galaxy up in the 25th minute. In the second half, Villarreal scored his second goal of the day at the 51st minute while Mark Hernandez also tallied to seal the Galaxy U-18’s 4-1 victory over Chicago Magic.
The Galaxy U-18 squad needed to win or draw against Montreal Impact U-18’s in the third and final group stage game to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the Academy Playoffs, but a 2-3 defeat to Montreal on Thursday morning eliminated the Galaxy from advancing to the next round. With a 2-2 draw, LA looked through to the next round in the closing moments, but a penalty kick goal by Fabio Morelli gave the Impact the victory to end the Galaxy’s hopes of Finals Week.
2014 DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
Game Date
LA Galaxy U-16’s vs. Vadar U-16’s Tuesday, July 8
Game will be played at StubHub Center
