Published 7/24/2012 11:52:06 AM by Shane Barrow from soccermogul

U17/U18 - FC Dallas 3 Vancouver Whitecaps 2

FC Dallas had been there before.  Last year they lost in the finals of the USSDA Development Academy U17/U18 national championship.  This year was to be different, but it would take a dramatic rally to get past the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Vancouver were on the front foot in the opening half and grabbed the lead through Ben Fisk in the 24th minute.  FCD answered back 10 minutes later as they earned a penalty.  The initial shot was saved by keeper Callum Irving but Danny Garcia raced in to finish the rebound. The Whitecaps took the lead right back before the half as a cross deflected off a Dallas defender for an own goal.

FC Dallas made one change at the half bringing forward Jose de la Tejera on to the field.  It was definitely to be the right move as de la Tejera tied the match with a 69th minute strike.  With only minutes to play it would be Jose de la Tejera the hero.

FC Dallas continued to create menacing opportunities. Danny Garcia delivered a precision cross into the area where de la Tejera was lurking, and he skillfully re-directed a header just inside the far post.

U15/U16 - NY Red Bull 1 St Louis Scott Gallagher 0

An early goal would stand up as the U15/U16 New York Red Bulls claimed the USSDA Development Academy title.  On the winning strike, the Red Bulls found a gap in the St. Louis defense down the right side as Adam Najem played a through ball to Alex Muyl. With nobody from the SLSG defense picking up Muyl on his run, he had an open lane at the goal and took the shot at the near right post, driving it past SLSG Missouri goalkeeper Jake Leeker for the 1-0 lead on New York’s first shot of the game.

It was a perfectly played match for NYRB as they got the early goal and then limited any Scott Gallagher chances to even the game.  Only a couple of headers in the second half were of any danger as St Louis tired in the later stages.

This year marked the first time two MLS-affiliated teams captured the championship during the same Academy Finals Week.

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