After a lackluster first day at the Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup, the Dynamo Academy regrouped on Day 2, winning three of four games and putting itself in a position to advance at least two teams to the quarterfinal stage of the tournament. Only the first-place team from each group advances to the next round.
In a win-or-go-home match, the Dynamo U-17s responded in resounding fashion, thumping Sockers FC 5-0 Monday afternoon. Striker Elo Ozumba recorded a hat trick and Matthew Dorsey and Gian Carlo Rojas added a goal a piece to lead the Dynamo. With the win, the U-17s sit in a tie for second place in the group with UAE Precor, three points behind PAC Tigres. The Dynamo and PAC Tigres will play on Wednesday at 10 a.m., with UAE set to finish group play Wednesday at noon against Sockers FC. If multiple teams finish on six points, the team with the best goal differential will advance. PAC currently has a +4 goal differential, the Dynamo are +3 and UAE is even.
The Dynamo Pre-Academy U-15 squad, competing in the U-16 age group, defeated the Indian U-16 national team 2-1 on Monday in their second match of the tournament. Dynamo midfielder Christian Lucatero and Nitin Jyal traded early goals, but Thomas Barboza's 36th-minute strike proved to be the difference for the Dynamo. Similar to the older squad, the U-16s sit in a tie for second place with Dallas Texans White West, three points behind West Coast FC. The Dynamo and Dallas Texans will play their final group game at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. West Coast FC and the Indian national team will play at 10 a.m. If West Coast wins or ties, they will secure first place in the group. If West Coast loses and the Dynamo win, the tiebreaker will come down to goal differential. West Coast currently has a +3 goal differential with the Dynamo even.
In their first match of the tournament, the Dynamo Pre-Academy U-14 squad, competing in the U-15 age group, lost 5-2 to Sockers FC. Andrew Canales and Thomas Hollis scored the goals for Houston. The U-15s are back in action today against Mana (Mexico).
In the U-19 age bracket, the Dynamo South Texas Academy (McAllen) defeated Shattuck St. Mary's 2-1. Raymundo Cervantes and Alexandro Gonzalez recorded the goals for Houston. The South Texas Academy will conclude group play on Wednesday at 2 p.m. against Dallas Texans White. The Puerto Rican U-19 national team will play Shattuck St. Mary's at noon. The Puerto Rican national team currently leads the group with six points, with the Dynamo STA in second place with three points.
