By Mike Woitalla
FC Dallas, which leads MLS clubs in Homegrown signings, continues to impress at the youth level. Both FC Dallas’ U-15/16 and U-17/18 teams have reached the2016 U.S. Soccer Development Academy finals, which take place on Saturday in Carson, California.
In the U-15/16 semifinal, FC Dallas defeated the Chicago Fire, 1-0, and will have a chance onSaturday to become the first repeat Development Academy national champ at the same age group. FC Dallas’ U-17/18s, whose roster is comprised of about 90 percent of the players from lastseason’s U-15/16 champions, beat Southern California’s Nomads, 2-1.
U-15/16 Final,July 16 in Carson, Calif.
Los Angeles Galaxy-FC Dallas (8 pm ET)
U-17/18 Final, July 16 inCarson, Calif.
FC Dallas-Vancouver Whitecaps (10:30 pm ET)
Games streamed live at U.S. Soccer’sYouTube channel.
The Los Angeles Galaxy reached the U-15/16 final with a 3-0 win over Real Colorado for chance to win its second title at that age group in three years and thirdin six years. New Jersey’s PDA, the last non-MLS team to win a Development Academy national title, fell, 4-1, to the Vancouver Whitecaps, who are aiming to become the first Canadian DA champ, inthe U-17/18 semis.
U-15/16 Semifinals, July 14 in Carson, Calif.
FC Dallas 1 Chicago Fire 0
Goal: Jacob Goyen 74
LA Galaxy 3 Real Colorado 0.
Goals: Oscar Penate (Kevin Negrete) 14, Jorge Hernandez (Penate) 29, JonathanEstrada 45
U-17/18 Semifinals, July 14 in Carson, Calif.
Vancouver Whitecaps 4 PDA 1
Goals: Andre Baires (David Norman) 32, own goal 50, Norman 52, Daniel Sagno (Terran Campbell) 68; Isaiah Young (Shane Kastl) 86.
FC Dallas 2 Nomads1
Goals: Hector Montalvo (Toshiki Yasuda) 52, Yasuda (Devin Vega) 77; Augustine Williams 45.
FC Dallas has signed a league record 14 Homegrown players,including six who are on the current first-team roster: U.S. national team defender Kellyn Acosta, Coy Craft, Jesse Gonzalez, Aaron Guillen, Moises Hernandez and VictorUlloa. Last month, FC Dallas sold Homegrown Alex Zendejas, an 18-year-old who has played eight MLS games, to Chivas Guadalajara.
Development Academy Champions U-15/16
2015 FC Dallas
2014 LA Galaxy
2013 Real Salt Lake AZ
2012New York Red Bulls
2011 LA Galaxy
2010 Chicago Fire
2009 Derby County Wolves
2008 Carmel United
2015 Chicago Fire
2014 PDA
2013 New York Red Bulls
2012 FC Dallas
2011 Pateadores
2010 Vardar SC
2009 Carmel United
2008 Baltimore Bays