The Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy U-17’s picked up quite the result in the Generation adidas Cup in Dallas on Tuesday night, topping a youth side from English Premier League club Stoke City in a penalty kick shootout after dramatically tying 2-2 in regulation.
RSL twice fell behind on Tuesday night, conceding in the sixth minute when Stoke attacker and Belgian youth international Julien Ngoy cleaned up a rebound to finish from just outside the box. RSL equalized in the 55th minute, when substitute Leo Fuchs unleashed a fantastic drive into the top right corner. The celebration was vintage RSL, with Fuchs and his teammates running over to a team from Layton-based La Roca Futbol Club – in town for the Dallas Cup – for a chorus of the “Believe” anthem.
RSL controlled the rest of the second half, but Stoke pulled ahead in the 70th and final minute, when forward Charles Weston-Hayles took advantage of a goalmouth scramble to pop a shot past RSL goalkeeper Christian Herrera. It looked like Stoke would take all three points, but RSL refused to give up, equalizing in the third and final minute of stoppage time. Newly signed Homegrown defender Justen Glad began the play, sending an excellent long ball over the top to forward Tate Schmitt on the right. Schmitt controlled and cut into the box, hitting a left-footed effort that took a deflection and rolled just across the goal line. Schmitt’s goal – which unleashed another wild celebration – turned out to be the final kick of regulation.
The Claret-and-Cobalt then turned their attention to the penalty kick shootout, with Herrera making one save and Aaron Herrera converting the final shot to give RSL a 4-2 victory. Another wild celebration followed the clinching PK, with La Roca players storming the field and converging with the RSL U-17’s in a raucous, bouncing mass in the penalty area. Such a fantastic moment for the RSL Family.
You can watch the entire match above. The real fun starts at the 1 hour, 24 minute mark, with the game tied 1-1 and Stoke about to pull ahead.
The shootout win keeps RSL in first-place in Group B of the GA Cup’s International Division, giving the Claret-and-Cobalt five points through two games. RSL is one point ahead of second-place Stoke, and two points ahead of third-place LA Galaxy. RSL will wrap group play on Thursday, taking on the Galaxy at 5:00 p.m. MT.
The three group winners from the International Division and the top second-place team will advance to the GA Cup Semifinals, which will be played on Friday. The GA Cup Final will be played on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. MT.
