FC Dallas rallies to win first Development Academy title

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Jul 23, 2012

[FINALS WEEK] FC Dallas rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to beat the Vancouver Whitecaps, 3-2, thanks to a pair of goals by sub Jose de la Tejera and win the U-17/18 Development Academy championship on Sunday at Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium. FC Dallas, the 2011 runner-up, becomes the first MLS-affiliated champion at the U-17/18 level in the Development Academy's five seasons.

De la Tejera scored an equalizer in the 68th minute and in the 84th tallied the game-winner off of a Danny Garcia assist from the right side.

"I think last year's near championship really drove this team," FC Dallas head coach Chris Hayden said. "I'm just so proud of the way they played. They worked hard all year, and they absolutely deserve it. My hat goes off to Vancouver. They have a lot of talent on their team. It was very difficult for us today, but we'll take it."

Vancouver had gone ahead on Ben Fisk's seventh goal of the week in the 24th minute. Garcia equalized seven minutes later when he scored on a rebound after his penalty kick was saved by Vancouver goalkeeper Callum Irving. Three minutes before the break, the 'Caps took the lead again when Clarke's pass across the goalmouth bounce off FC Dallas defender Flavio Guzman and skidded past the wrong-footed Eduardo Cortes.

North Carolina Fusion beat Solar Chelsea, 4-1, to take third. Baltimore Bays Chelsea captured fifth place with a win by the same score over the Colorado Rapids. De Anza Force finished seventh with a 5-0 win over 10-man Chivas USA.

July 22 in Houston
FC Dallas 3 Vancouver Whitecaps 2. Goals: Garcia 31, de la Tejera 68, 84; Fisk 24, own goal 42.
FC Dallas -- Cortes; Rochowski (de la Tejera , 46), Ashby, Guillen, Ambrose; Carrizales (Ortiz, 79), Acosta, Guzman; Garcia (Edet, 87), Top, Robledo ( Laverde, 89).
Vancouver -- Irving; Rodriguez, Rowley, Stanese, Hickson (van Blerk, 59); Alderson, McKendry (DeBoice, 85), Polakiewicz (Adekugbe, 46); Essa (Cain, 71), Clarke (Marquez, 75), Fisk.
Referee: Robert Sibiga.
Att.: 700