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En Route: Pateadores capture 2011 Development Academy U-18 National Championship
Recently called-up U.S. U-18 forward Jose Villareal provides two goals to lead Pateadores past FC Dallas for club's first Development Academy title.
Jul 15, 2011 4:46:00 PM
By J.R. Eskilson
J.R. Eskilson
MILWAUKEE – It was destiny achieved on Friday for the U-18 Pateadores team, which lifted the Development Academy silverware after a 2-1 victory over FC Dallas. Forward Jose Villareal stole the show with both goals for the National Champions.
The action started early when Villareal was dragged down 20 yards from goal by FC Dallas center back Jack Coleman. The 17-year-old hit the ensuing free kick over the wall and into the bottom left corner for the net for his first goal of the game only five minutes into the action.
“Coach Thomas [Dooley] was telling me, ‘you have to score a free kick today,” Villareal told Goal.com after the game. “It was a perfect position. I just nailed it into the goal.”
FC Dallas fought back from the opening goal with one good chance before break. Forward Jonathan Top hammered a shot from 16 yards out, which required an athletic save from goalkeeper Juan Cervantes.
After the break, the pressure continued to grow from the Texas club until it finally broke through the stout Pateadores defense. In the 62 minute, Victor Ulloa started the movement when he dribbled through the left side of the box and occupied multiple defenders. The midfielder laid it off for Michael Ambrose, who delivered a beautiful chip to the far post. Midfielder Bryan Leyva finished the chance with a cracking shot into the net.
Pateadores regained the lead with another touch of brilliance from Villareal, who Saldana said would be joining the U.S. U-18 national team for Milk Cup. With only nine minutes remaining before added time, defender Oscar Sorto chipped a ball onto the chest of Villareal. The striker turned and volleyed the ball into the back of the net for the game-winner.
“I stopped it on my chest and just turned to my right side and hammered it into the side net,” Villareal said about the second goal.
“Big players make big plays in big games,” Saldana added about the star of the game. “He definitely showed his quality, but obviously he has a great group of guys around him.”
The Pateadores defense held on through a few more chances from the MLS academy, before the referee blew the final whistle and boys in blue yelled in joy and those clad in hoops fell to the grass in despair.
“It doesn’t come that often, it is so special,” Saldana said after the game about being national champions. “It means you’ve had that long season, that success. For the team, it sets them apart; for me, it is something I will never forget.”
The action started early when Villareal was dragged down 20 yards from goal by FC Dallas center back Jack Coleman. The 17-year-old hit the ensuing free kick over the wall and into the bottom left corner for the net for his first goal of the game only five minutes into the action.
“Coach Thomas [Dooley] was telling me, ‘you have to score a free kick today,” Villareal told Goal.com after the game. “It was a perfect position. I just nailed it into the goal.”
FC Dallas fought back from the opening goal with one good chance before break. Forward Jonathan Top hammered a shot from 16 yards out, which required an athletic save from goalkeeper Juan Cervantes.
After the break, the pressure continued to grow from the Texas club until it finally broke through the stout Pateadores defense. In the 62 minute, Victor Ulloa started the movement when he dribbled through the left side of the box and occupied multiple defenders. The midfielder laid it off for Michael Ambrose, who delivered a beautiful chip to the far post. Midfielder Bryan Leyva finished the chance with a cracking shot into the net.
Pateadores regained the lead with another touch of brilliance from Villareal, who Saldana said would be joining the U.S. U-18 national team for Milk Cup. With only nine minutes remaining before added time, defender Oscar Sorto chipped a ball onto the chest of Villareal. The striker turned and volleyed the ball into the back of the net for the game-winner.
“I stopped it on my chest and just turned to my right side and hammered it into the side net,” Villareal said about the second goal.
“Big players make big plays in big games,” Saldana added about the star of the game. “He definitely showed his quality, but obviously he has a great group of guys around him.”
The Pateadores defense held on through a few more chances from the MLS academy, before the referee blew the final whistle and boys in blue yelled in joy and those clad in hoops fell to the grass in despair.
“It doesn’t come that often, it is so special,” Saldana said after the game about being national champions. “It means you’ve had that long season, that success. For the team, it sets them apart; for me, it is something I will never forget.”
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