On Wednesday, March 23, 2016, 12 highly talented young soccer players departed for Dallas, Texas, where they represented the New York Red Bulls in the 2016 Generation adidas Cup (GA Cup).
The group of players, all of whom are members of the Red Bulls Regional Development School (RDS), were selected for the event after a four-week tryout process. The group spent the next four days competing against team from MLS, Spain and Mexico.
Game 1: New York Red Bulls RDS U-12 (1) vs. Villarreal CF U-12 (4)
The Red Bulls RDS fell to Spanish giants Villarreal in their opening game of the competition, 4-1. Far from ideal soccer conditions greeted both teams, with a strong wind gusting across the field.
The game did not start well for the Red Bulls, conceding within the first minute of the match, with nerves affecting the young team from New York. The one goal deficit quickly became two as the Spanish side showed their quality early on.
After surrendering two goals, the Red Bulls settled into the game. Athan Ladas came off the bench and displayed great composure on the ball to help New York build out from the back while Kevin Terhune keeping the score at two with a couple of fine diving saves. A strong end to the half was dampened by a late goal for Villarreal as New York headed into the break trailing, 3-0.
The Red Bulls came out with great vigor for the second of the 15-minute halves and pulled a goal back through Simon Adjakple after good work by captain Michael Olivieri. The gap was almost closed further as Phil Koutsaftis cut in from the left wing, beating two players before seeing his right footed shot fly inches wide of the far post.
The Red Bulls continued to look dangerous with Jacob Lee pulling the strings in the midfield and Adjakple a constant threat down the wing. However, as the Red Bulls pushed for a second goal, they were caught on the counter attack with Villarreal striking a late goal.
Scoring Summary (Assist in parenthesis):
- Villarreal 0-1
- Villarreal 0-2
- Villarreal 0-3
- NY: Simon Adjakple (Michael Olivieri) 1-3
- Villarreal 1-4
Game 2: New York Red Bulls RDS U-12 (2) vs. Houston Dynamo U-12 (4)
The RDS was back in action for their second game of the day versus Houston Dynamo. New York took heed of the lessons they had learned from game one, this time flying out of the blocks at the opening whistle.
Just minutes into the game, Michael Olivieri notched his first goal of the tournament as he fired in a right-footed free kick into the bottom corner of the net. The lead was short lived, however, as Houston struck back to tie.
Olivieri scored his second of the day to restore Red Bulls’ lead - again direct from a set piece - this time curling the ball around the wall and into the side netting at the back post with a perfectly placed shot. The game itself was not a thing of beauty, as both teams battled and fought hard in the blustery conditions, but struggled to get the ball down on the perfectly manicured grass and combine effectively. It was the Dynamo who emerged victorious, 4-2, as the Red Bulls ended day one with two defeats.
Scoring Summary (Assist in parenthesis):
- NY: Michael Olivieri 1-0
- Houston 1-1
- NY: Michael Olivieri 2-1
- Houston 2-2
- Houston 2-3
- Houston 2-4
Game 3: New York Red Bulls RDS U-12 (2) vs. FC Dallas Blue U-12 (0)
An early start on day two saw the Red Bulls square off against the host side, FC Dallas. Perfect soccer conditions greeted both teams, with the sun shining and only a slight breeze blowing. From the offset, New York appeared more confident and comfortable than on day one, moving the ball well and dominating possession.
They didn’t have to wait long to take the lead in the game either, with Michael Olivieri and Simon Adjakple continuing their goal scoring form from day one, bagging a goal apiece. At the other end, Oscar Bowring was fantastic at the back alongside Athan Ladas, with goalkeeper’s Owen Moore and Kevin Terhune both making fine saves to oversee the team’s first shut out of the competition.
Another fine performance came from Jacob Lenhard, stepping off the bench to drive the Red Bulls forward from the middle of the park with his trademark work rate and determination. Perhaps the brightest moment of the tournament thus far came in the second half, with a passing move involving Oscar Bowring, Brian Babovic and Nico Beninda, which resulted in Simon Adjakple setting up Athan Ladas, only to see his first-time strike fly wide. With the win, 2-0, it was a job well done and the first three points on the board for the RDS team.
Scoring Summary (Assist in parenthesis):
- NY: Michael Olivieri 1-0
- NY: Simon Adjakple 2-0
Game 4: New York Red Bulls RDS U-12 (3) vs. Portland Timbers U-12 (1)
Buoyed by their success in the first game of the day, the Red Bulls took to the field for game two brimming with confidence and looked the better team from the offset. Two goals from Simon Adjakple - the first a wonderful strike on his left foot after turning his defender following a good ball sent into his feet by Ethan Choi, and another from Mikey Olivieri - were enough to dispatch of a hard working Portland side.
Brian Babovic and Jake Lee also came close as the Red Bulls created several good goal-scoring chances, only to see the Portland goalkeeper make some excellent saves.
Scoring Summary (Assist in parenthesis):
- NY: Simon Adjakple 1-0
- NY: Simon Adjakple (Michael Olivieri) 2-0
- NY: Michael Olivieri 3-0
- Portland 3-1
Game 5: New York Red Bulls RDS U-12 (0) vs. Orlando City SC U-12 (2)
Saturday morning saw the RDS team face fellow east coast side, Orlando City. The Red Bulls started the game with a relentless press, creating numerous scoring chances and dominating possession and territory. Nico Beninda looked sharp in the midfield and was at the heart of many of the Red Bulls best attacking moments.
Orlando City struck first against the run of play to see the RDS come in at one goal behind at the break. The second period continued in the same vain as the first, but the Red Bulls could not get the best of an Orlando goalkeeper in inspired form and eventually fell two goals behind.
Orlando’s Braedon Seymour (a RDS summer camper himself) put his side two goals ahead, striking against his peers. Brian Babovic came mightily close to scoring a 25-yard screamer that whistled just wide of the post, but try as they might, the Red Bulls could not haul themselves back into the game.
Scoring Summary (Assist in parenthesis):
- Orlando 0-1
- Orlando 0-2
Game 6: New York Red Bulls RDS U-12 (0) vs. Atlanta United FC U-12 (3)
The loss against Orlando meant that the RDS would face Atlanta in their final game of the competition. Again the Red Bulls played some great soccer, building well from the back through Oscar Bowring and Ethan Choi and combining to good effect through the midfield.
Unfortunately, they were not able to convert the chances that they created and saw Atlanta strike twice before the break. Atlanta furthered their lead in the second half on a free kick.
Despite the results on the day, the view in camp was that the results did not reflected the team’s performances and in fact received many plaudits from opposing coaches and onlookers alike.
Scoring Summary (Assist in parenthesis):
- Atlanta 0-1
- Atlanta 0-2
- Atlanta 0-3
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