Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency ended their Gordon Jago U-19 Super Group campaign at Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXII with a 2-0 defeat to Real Salt Lake U-17/U-18 Academy on Wednesday morning.
Needing a victory to have a chance of winning Bracket C and advancing to Friday's semifinals, Richard Grootscholten's side succumbed to a goal in each half from RSL Academy, with the young 'Caps struggling to create many chances during their final group match at Pizza Hut Park Field #4.
Searching for their first win on a cold and overcast morning in Frisco, Texas, Real Salt Lake took the lead on 20 minutes. A ball into the Whitecaps FC box was eventually converted by the American side.
Though Residency goalkeeper Callum Irving was beaten on that occasion, he did well to deny RSL Academy from extending their lead with a fine save from a breakaway on 28 minutes. Though they hit the woodwork with a strike six minutes later, Salt Lake took their one-goal advantage into the halftime break.
Any hopes of a 'Caps comeback ended on 75 minutes when Salt Lake were awarded a penalty, which was duly converted by RSL Academy, who are based at the Major League Soccer club's youth set-up in Casa Grande, Arizona.
"We had a small chance to win the group with a big win today, so we set out to try and press Salt Lake high up the pitch," Grootscholten told whitecapsfc.com. "Though we didn’t have many chances, I thought we were better today than we were against Tigres. Our players need to learn to be smarter and more clever when playing in these type of games. This will be a learning experience for our younger players, especially."
Mexico's Tigres de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (Tigres UANL) won Bracket C after defeating Brazil's Sport Club Corinthians Paulista 1-0 at Pizza Hut Park Stadium - home of MLS club FC Dallas - on Wednesday evening.
Whitecaps FC Residency - line-up vs. Real Salt Lake U-17/U-18 Academy (Dallas Cup XXXII)
30.Callum Irving; 14.Adam Polakiewicz, 3.Derrick Bassi, 17.Daniel Stanese, 21.Ben McKendry (10.Tim Hickson 65'); 4.Wesley Cain (12.Carlos Marquez 55'), 6.Kevin Cobby, 2.Bryce Alderson, 15.Declan Rodriguez (16.Alex Rowley 65'); 8.Ben Fisk (19.Kalem Scott 77'), 5.Caleb Clarke (7.Spencer DeBoice 55')
