Youth/High School Soccer
Philadelphia Union U-18s win Dallas Cup final on penalties
Another successful penalty shootout lifted the Philadelphia Union U-18s to the Gordon Jago Super Group championship at the Dallas Cup on Sunday afternoon at Toyota Stadium.
As he did in the semifinal against CF Monterrey, Union U-18 goalkeeper Alex Smith came up with a crucial save and watched a penalty kick soar over the bar that decided the shootout in the Union’s favor over defending champions SAF Botafogo.
Botafogo scored early in each half to grab a 2-0 lead but the Union refused to go away and got a lifeline when John Ruf was taken down in the box by Botafogo keeper Matheus Lima inside the box. Lima was shown a yellow card for the collision and Willyam Ferreira converted the penalty past Lima to cut the lead to 2-1.
The penalty kick shifted momentum to the Union’s favor and after creating a number of chances Tyler Gladstone delivered the equalizer in the 92nd minute with a right footed shot that Lima got two hands to but couldn’t keep out of the goal. Following two scoreless 10-minute overtime periods the game went to penalties. Lima and Smith each made a save and the Union took a 6-5 lead on Nick Greer’s penalty in the 7th round when Botafogo captain Danillo stepped to the line. Danillo’s attempt skied over the bar to end it and an ensuing skirmish put a damper on the festivities. Emotions had been boiling up between the two teams with the benches clearing following the end of regulation and players had to be separated on more than one other occasion.
When the dust settled, the Union lifted their second trophy of the year to go with their Snow Bowl victory in February and became just the third U.S. team to win the Super Group title and first since FC Dallas in 2017. Dallas Texans also won it in 2006. Botafogo was denied back-to-back titles and what would’ve been a 14th win for teams from Brazil.
