The New York Red Bulls U-15 squad traveled to Dallas, Texas last week to test themselves against other top MLS academy teams in the 2011 Generation adidas Cup. New York passed, compiling a 2-0-1 record in the group stages before posting a come-from-behind 3-2 victory in the final against Chivas USA's U-15s and bringing a trophy back to Red Bull Arena.
"We are very happy for the players and the academy," U-15 head coach Jeff Zaun said. "This is a great tournament to win."
GALLERY: Red Bulls lift U-15 Generation adidas Cup
New York came to the tournament without the services of seven players who were away at the US U-15 national team training camp in Los Angeles, Calif. The Red Bulls sputtered out of the gate with a 0-0 tie against the Seattle Sounders, but in the next game New York started strong and controlled the match against the Houston Dynamo, while Danted Perez scored a brace en route to a 2-0 win. The victory put the Red Bulls atop the group, tied for first with the LA Galaxy. The decisive third match between the cross-country rivals would determine the group winner as well as Chivas USA's opponent in the title bout.
The Red Bulls again came out flying, an early goal by Malcolm Dixon giving New York a 1-0 lead. Joe Swenson scored before halftime to make the score 2-0, but LA came out after the break with guns blazing and quickly pulled one back. Before any more damage could be done, however, Stephen Elias scored two highlight-reel goals to give the Red Bulls the 4-1 win and a place in the final.
In the final the Red Bulls came out and controlled the tempo of the game from the start but were unable to break through in the early going. In the 25th minute, Chivas got behind the Red Bulls defense off a long punt from the goalkeeper and took a 1-0 lead, but the Red Bulls quickly responded with a goal from Malcolm Dixon just before the halftime whistle.
New York took the lead early in the second half when defender Tyler Pinho won a penalty for the Red Bulls after being taken down in the box. Malcolm Dixon stepped up to the spot and converted to put his team up 2-1. The penalty galvanized New York, who created some very good chances to put the game out of reach that went wanting. With 10 minutes to go, their profligacy in front of goal came back to haunt them after Chivas USA won a penalty kick of their own. But once again the Red Bulls responded, Stephen Elias putting away a header off a set piece from Theo Miller to give New York the 3-2 lead and the Cup.
"We have a talented group of players in this age group," Zaun said. "I think it says a lot about the depth of our talent pool when we can send seven players to a national team camp and at the same time send the rest of the team to a prestigious tournament and win it going against the other MLS academies."
The U15 group will next be going to Red Bull Austria on August 8th for the "Red Bull Next Generation" tournament against top academies in Europe.
