The U12 boys ran into two hot opponents in group play at Dallas Cup out of Southern California and Monterrey Mexico.

 

The second group game against Valley Blast United from Southern California ended 2-0. The Fury went down 1-0 early in the first half when the Valley Blast picked up an errant pass, knocked it into a wide player that struck an early service that was finished from close range. "We definitely did ourselves no favors going down early in the game", Coach Jerry Willenborg, "we played much better in the second half, had chances and just did not put one away". One of those good chances is where Nico Rodriguez Fraile struck a ball off the cross bar. The Blast got a late goal for the 2-0 off a counter attack after the Fury had pressed into their half with extra players forward.

 

The final group game against Monterrey, Mexico was important for each team in terms of points to qualify for the quarter-finals as well as goal differential. The Fury went down 1-0 midway through the first half although each team had their share of the game. Monterrey played with a great combination of athleticism and skill. But the real damage came off of two corner kicks that resulted in two scores for Monterrey.

 

With the Fury down 1-0 going into half time it was Nico Rodriguez Fraile once again that fired a rocket off the cross bar. It came close to leveling the score but Monterrey took the lead into half time. Both Matteo Fischer and Nico Rodriguez Fraile had individual chances in the second half but didn't convert.

"It's not so much how many opportunities you get at this level of club soccer but what you do with those chances", WFSC Technical Director Dave Simeone, "We created some real stress for ourselves, pressed even harder mentally. It was difficult for the boys to deal with."

 

The U12's finished with a 1-2 record. However the team will remain in Dallas, Texas until this Saturday as they are in the process of scheduling a friendly match or two against other teams eliminated from the competition. "There's an abundance of opportunity to schedule these friendlies with teams from Texas, California or the international sides. That's a great facet of this tournament", Jerry Willenborg.

To learn more about this premier soccer tournament visit www.dallascup.com