Teams from Germany, Canada, and USA claim Saturday’s four “Boot & Ball” trophies
DALLAS, Texas (Saturday, March 30) – The 2024 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola hosted four boys' championship matches today at Toyota Stadium, where champions emerged across the Under 13 through Under 16 age brackets, with four teams winning the coveted "Boot and Ball" championship trophies.
2024 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola: U13-U16 Boys Champions
Under 13: AIFC Toronto (CAN)
Under 14: Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)
Under 15: VfB Stuttgart (GER)
Under 16: FC Dallas ECNL Red B08 (TX)
The 2024 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola concludes on Sunday with the championship matches in the U17, U18, U19, and U19 Gordon Jago Super Group divisions.
The Gordon Jago Super Group championship headlines the day with a showdown between Brazil’s São Paulo FC and local side FC Dallas. The marquee match of the day will kick off at 4:30pm CT at Toyota Stadium. Tickets for the boys' championship matches on Sunday at Toyota Stadium are on sale now. All games will be streamed live from Toyota Stadium on Dallas Cup’s YouTube channel @TheDallasCup. 2024 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola: Sunday, March 31 Schedule 9:00AM - Under 17 Final Tigres (MEX) vs. La Roca – J Milla ECNL (UT) 11:30AM - Under 18 Final FC Dallas ECNL White B06/05 (TX) vs. SoCal Elite FC B06 EA (CA) 2:00PM - Under 19 Final EP Locomotive USL Academy (TX) vs. Dallas Texans Academy ECNL (TX) 4:30PM - Gordon Jago Super Group Final FC Dallas (TX) vs. São Paulo FC (BRA)
Championship Recaps (3/30): Under 13 – Under 16
The first match of the day was the Under 13 boys final between FC Dallas U13 Academy and Athlete Institute FC Toronto (AIFC). The Canadian side scored the first goal of the morning in the 17th minute, as captain Yaseen Aboulaghed connected on a lovely free-kick, dipping off the crossbar and across the goal line to put AIFC ahead, 1-0. In the second half, his teammates Mason Fuller and Ethan Gil added goals in the 38th and 41st minute, respectively, to make the score, 3-0. Despite a three-goal deficit, FC Dallas did not throw in the towel. In the 47th minute, Benjamin Flowers clawed a goal back for the local side. Just a few minutes later, Lenon Luccin scored from the penalty spot to make the match, 3-2. As the match neared full-time, FC Dallas’ Benjamin Flowers scored his second goal of the game, and more importantly, the equalizer, as the match was sent to penalty kicks to determine the champion. Both sides traded blows from the penalty spot, but it was AIFC keeper, Axel Battilana, who denied an attempt in the end, as AIFC Toronto was crowned the 2024 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola Under 13 champion.
Photo: Ngai Ning, @ning.shots
The Under 14 final kicked off shortly after 11:00am between Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt and Solar SC Academy 10B. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Luca Seitz scored the opening goal of the match in the 19th minute to put the German side on top, 1-0. Two minutes later, Blendion Krasniqi headed home a second goal off a corner, as Eintracht Frankfurt held firm control of the match and a 2-0 lead at halftime. In the 64th minute, Luca Seitz secured his brace, which put the game on ice, as the final whistle blew with the score at 3-0 in favor of Eintracht Frankfurt. The 2024 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola marked the 20th anniversary of participation for the Bundesliga side and they will be proud to return home to Frankfurt with the club’s seventh “Boot & Ball” trophy.
Photo: Eintracht Frankfurt
At 1:00pm, the Under 15 final kicked off with another Bundesliga side, VfB Stuttgart, facing off against Solar SC Academy 09B. Already up 1-0 thanks to an own goal committed by Solar, Tom Brenner scored in the 24th minute to put VfB Stuttgart ahead 2-0. A few minutes after the Brenner goal, his teammate Vadim Lenz also entered the score sheet as the German side went ahead 3-0 in the match. However, Solar was not going to go down without a fight. Off a corner kick, Solar’s Aimo Roessler headed home the first goal for the local academy to make the match 3-1. Early in the second half, Trey Glosson scored a goal of his own to bring Solar within one. But with seconds left in regulation, Stuttgart’s Luca Berreth scored a wondergoal from outside the box to put the game on ice. The 2024 edition of the tournament marked the Dallas Cup debut for VfB Stuttgart and they certainly announced their arrival in style as they hoisted the Under 15 championship trophy.
Photo: Matthew Visinsky
Saturday’s last final of the day was a North Texas clash between FC Dallas ECNL Red B08 and BVB ECNL B08 to determine the Under 16 champion. In the 8th minute, FC Dallas’ Akram Kader scored the opening goal of the match, stepping just inside the edge of the box and hammering the ball inside the far post to put his team ahead 1-0. About midway through the second half, FC Dallas’ Gabriel Rojas added a second goal as he got through on goal and chipped the BVB keeper to make the match 2-0. Two goals was all it would take, as the ref sounded the final whistle and FC Dallas ECNL Red B08 was crowned the 2024 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola Under 16 champion.
Photo: Matthew Visinsky
Friday - March 29 Next door to Toyota Stadium, the champion of the U12 boys division was crowned at Toyota Soccer Center this morning. Mexico’s GOKAY Club de Fútbol defeated FC Dallas 2012 Academy, 2-1. Iker Silva scored both goals in the match to lead his team to the Under 12 “Boot & Ball” trophy.
Fans and teams alike can learn more about the tournament by visiting www.DallasCup.org or following us on social media @dallascup.