U-16 Girls Desperado Cup Final in the Hot Seat
A typical sunny scorching hot August weekend in North Texas, with temperatures ranging in the upper 90’s brought teams as fierce as the temperatures to Meadowmere soccer complex and Oak Grove soccer complex in Grapevine, Texas to compete for the…
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Continue ReadingA typical sunny scorching hot August weekend in North Texas, with temperatures ranging in the upper 90’s brought teams as fierce as the temperatures to Meadowmere soccer complex and Oak Grove soccer complex in Grapevine, Texas to compete for the Desperado Summer Cup Final. For the U-16 Girls FC Dallas RL NTX Blue G07 was bracket favorite, going undefeated in bracket play. While their opponent NTX Celtics 07G Epps South only loss in bracket play was a tough 2-1 loss to FC Dallas in the first game of the tournament. The final proved to be a revenge match for the Celtics and a chance for FC Dallas to prove why they have been the bracket and U-16 Girls favorite of the tournament. With emotions, club stats and a inner bracket rivalry on the line the final showed to be just as heated as the temperatures.
First Half analysis:
FC Dallas RL NTX Blue G07:
With a 4X3X3 formation, key players such as #10 the target forward and finesse attacking style worked well with outside forward #7 one-touch combing between the Celtic’s defense to score an early goal in the first half. Defensively #4 a left back coming off the bench in the first half to help with ball movement going forward was a key defensive player as well as helping move the ball forward she made strong key tackles/ clearances as the half progressed and #22 a center back a tall defender strong in the air winning headers and other balls in the air from the Celtics attacking players.
NTX Celtics 07 Epps South:
Running a 4X3X3 formation as well, key offensive players #30 Zyri Ellison a power forward using her strength and speed as the target forward to help her team capitalize on fast offensive breaks overwhelming the FC Dallas’s defense. with #13 Arisa Turner a quick attacking center mid using her technical abilities to help regain ball possession to quickly move forward. Key defensive players #83 Alexis Castor an explosive center back ready to make key tackles in the final third of the field. Helping her other defenders make tackles, and communicating which players to mark.
Celtics Scoring late in the first half off a quick fast break and catching FC Dallas’s defense off guard the first half ended with an intense 1-1 battle.
Second Half analysis:
FC Dallas RL NTX Blue G07:
Starting with the same formation and a new goalie FC Dallas played frantically forward. The pace of their game swiftly changed from movement through the midfield, such as #16 a versatile midfielder who shifted from an outside position to a center-mid position whose strengths included changing direction of play and distribution with other attacking players changed to a rushed pace of blindly going forward. #10 the center forward look to turn and take defenders 1v1 to get a shot off on goal to hopefully score the game winner or her team. As the game progressed and FC Dallas retained most of the possession of the game the rushed frantic pace of pushing forward remained the same.
NTX Celtics 07 Epps South:
Just as FC Dallas did the same 4x3x3 formation was used for the second half. Defensively Alex Castor anchored the defensive back line and patiently waited for a another fast break opportunity that in the late second half earned them the game winning and tournament final winning goal to secure the Desperado Cup Final Trophy.
Closing Analysis:
Throughout the game FC Dallas RL NTX BLUE G07 held most of the possession. Moving the ball from defensively through the outside then through the forwards. Combining give and goes offensively, and switching the field through the center-mids. This ball movement contributed in the early first half goal. As the half progressed NTX Celtics 07 Epps South answered back with a late goal to close the half in a 1-1 tie. Catching FC Dallas off guard Celtics continued using their momentum, capitalizing on fast brakes and pressing forward as a full unit on the field to score a late goal in the second half, securing a 2-1 victory to win the Desperado Summer Cup.