The Houston Dynamo Academy U-16s traveled to Kansas City over Columbus Day weekend to take part in the first stage of the Generation Adidas Cup regionals.
The team played three games, and after two losses to start the weekend, they picked up a big win on Monday to finish strong. The level of competition—all against fellow MLS academies—was a jump up from their week-in, week-out opponents, said U-16 head coach Scott James.
“Its imperative for our players to play at this level and play more high level competition on a regular basis,” James said. “We did not get away with mistakes as we typically would within our regular Development Academy league. This is the benchmark.“
The Dynamo began against Toronto FC on Friday and surrendered a first half goal, but responded early in the second half with goals from Tobias McKay and Domingo Mba Ayecaba, with the latter’s tally assisted by U.S. U-17 Residency midfielder Marcelo Palomino. After going up 2-1, however, the team surrendered two late goals to fall 3-2. The following day, the team endured a 7-0 loss to rivals FC Dallas.
The U-16s finished on Monday against the Chicago Fire, and put off the disappointing results from earlier in the weekend to cruise to a 4-1 win. McKay scored two goals inside the opening half hour, and then Palomino finished off a pass from Ayecaba just after the halftime break. Chicago pulled one back in the 78th minute, but substitute Berto Soto scored in stoppage time for the final margin.
“The reaction of the team for the final game defined their character as to what they are all about,” James said, picking out Palomino, Ayecaba, and midfielder Diego Gutierrez as individual standouts from the tournament. “They showed a real spirit and determination to set aside the disappointment of the previous game and prove it was a one-off.
“The team will take out of this weekend the importance of concentration and contribution within each game. The biggest lesson learnt was getting punished for rudimentary mistakes.”
The Dynamo U-16s return to Development Academy play this Saturday at Houston Sports Park against Lonestar SC (3:30 p.m.; U-18s at 1 p.m.). Through four games in the DA schedule, the Dynamo are in the middle of the pack in the Central Conference Frontier Division (2-2-0, 6 points). The second round of regional play for the GA Cup will take place in February at Houston Sports Park.
