DALLAS, Texas (Saturday, April 8) – The 2023 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola played four boys championship matches today at Toyota Stadium. Aired live on ESPN3, champions of the boys Under 13 through Under 16 age brackets were decided with four teams hoisting “Boot and Ball” championship trophies.
The first match of the day was a North Texas clash between the U13 FC Dallas Academy and U13 Dallas Texans Academy ECNL. In the 8th minute, after a beautiful bit of passing around the box, the ball found FC Dallas’ Aiden Gallardo who scored the opening goal of the match. In the 52nd minute, Gallardo scored his brace, connecting from outside the box to put FC Dallas ahead 2-0 late in the match. Dallas Texans’ Noam Lipszyc added a goal with about four minutes remaining in the match, but FC Dallas was able to fend off any other equalizing threats. The match ended 2-1 in favor of the U13 FC Dallas Academy, who were named the 2023 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola Under-13 boys champions.
The boys’ Under-14 final between Mexico’s Atlas FC Academy and Orlando City Soccer School South kicked off at 11:00am from Toyota Stadium. From the opening kick, the match had the look of a defensive battle and that’s exactly what it turned into, as both side’s back line held strong and stifled any meaningful scoring threats. The match ended 0-0 after regulation, sending the teams into a penalty kick shootout to decide the Under-14 champion. Atlas FC Academy converted all of their attempts and won the shootout, 5-3, crowning the Mexican side as the first international champion of the 2023 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola.
The Under-15 final kicked off at 1:00pm, featuring Japan’s Maebashi FC and Crossfire Premier ECNL out of Washington. Crossfire Premier entered the match having scored 21 goals in the tournament and their goal scoring prowess was on display at Toyota Stadium. By the 10th minute, Zachariah Hume had already scored a pair of goals (1’, 10’) and Nathan Knoblich notched a goal of his own (6’), as Crossfire jumped out to an early 3-0 lead. In the 16th minute, Maebashi’s Toumu Tobe pulled the Japanese side within two as he connected on a marvelous left-footed strike from outside the box to make the match 3-1. Despite the breakneck pace at the beginning of the game, the play evened out throughout the second half and no more goals were conceded. Crossfire Premier ECNL hoisted the Under 15 “Boot & Ball” trophy, becoming just the second boys’ champion from the state of Washington all-time.
The last game of the day was the Under-16 final between the 2007 ODP National Select team and Solar SC. It was a well-played, physical game throughout, but neither side was able to put their name on the scoresheet as the match was sent to PKs following regulation. ODP National Select’s keeper Marshall Degraff set the tone with an outstretched save on the first Solar attempt. Ultimately, the ODP side won the shootout, 4-2, as they were crowned the Under-16 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola champions.
Sunday, April 9
The 2023 Dallas Cup presented by Coca-Cola concludes on Sunday with the championship matches in the 17U, 18U, 19U, and 19U Gordon Jago Super Group divisions.
The Gordon Jago Super Group championship headlines the day with a showdown between Denmark’s FC Midtjylland and Brazil’s Sao Paulo FC. The marquee match of the day will kick off at 4:00pm CT at Toyota Stadium.
9:00AM – 17U Final – ODP National Select (USA) vs. Tigres (MEX)
11:30AM – 18U Final – FC Dallas ECNL White (TX) vs. ODP National Select
2:00PM – 19U Final – Dallas Texans ECNL (TX) vs. LouCity Academy Purple (KY)
4:30PM – Gordon Jago Super Group Final – FC Midtjylland (DEN) vs. Sao Paulo FC (BRA)
Fans and teams alike can learn more about the tournament by visiting www.DallasCup.org or following us on social media @dallascup.