Local teams struggle for results on first day of U.S. Youth Soccer national championships

Results were hard to come by for the five teams from the Philadelphia region on the first day of the U.S. Youth Soccer national championships. Only YMS Xplosion on the girls side and Penn Fusion on the boys side were able to get results in a tough start to the trophy quest for our local teams.

Penn Fusion U19/U20 2 OP 97/98 Green 2
Penn Fusion’s U19/U20 team began its quest for a McGuire Cup trophy on Tuesday with a disappointing 2-2 draw after twice taking the lead in a match against Ohio club OP 97/98 Green.

Charlie Collins opened the scoring in the 33rd minute for Penn Fusion and Aiden McFadden’s one-time volley in the 66th minute put his team back in front after Jarrod Ferstl equalized for OP late in the first half. But Ian Black’s 86th minute goal knotted the game at two a piece.

Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 0 Las Vegas SA Red 3
A fluke goal at the end of the first half led to two more goals in the second half for Las Vegas Soccer Association in a 3-0 win over the Ukies on Tuesday. Antonio Gomez sent a ball in that appeared to be a cross but ended being ruled as crossing the line after the Philadelphia goalkeeper attempted to push it off the line. Michael Vogel’s 53rd minute strike was a no doubter and Jesus Ubario made it 3-0 in the 64th minute.

Real Jersey FC 1 St. Louis Scott Gallagher Pre-Academy 04 4
St. Louis Scott Gallagher jumped to a three goal lead with three goals in a 10 minute span in the first half, but Real Jersey clawed back into the game with a Tyler Davidson goal off a fine pull back and delivery from Nicholas Yushchak in the box. Minutes later, Real JFC had a chance to cut further into the lead when a foul was called in the box but the penalty kick was saved and St. Louis Scott Gallagher tacked on another goal off a counter attack in the 70th minute.

Girls

YMS Premier Xplosion 98 3 Team Chicago Academy 1998 Elite 2
Rebecca Rossett had a brace and Maddie Elwell scored to put YMS up 3-0 but two late goals from the Chicago team made things interesting at the game’s end.

FC Pennsylvania Strikers 0 Legends FC 99 Academy 2
The National League Black winner picked up two second half goals in a two-minute span to send the Pennsylvania U18 girls team to an opening day defeat.