The Pateadores Academy BU16 and BU18 were undefeated in key weekend match-ups against LA Galaxy and Chivas USA.
On Saturday, the Academy BU16 ran wild against the Galaxy, finding the net again-and-again, in a 5-1 lopsided victory. Meanwhile, the BU18, playing with 10 men after a red card was shown, beat the U18 Galaxy 2-0 in a test of technical acumen and true grit. The LA Galaxy Academy youth programs were left scratching their heads, having left the Pateadores home field in Costa Mesa with a minus-6 goal differential.
On Sunday, another Major League Soccer’s Academy program had a tough day. This time it was Chivas USA. In the U16 game, the Pateadores demonstrated that they are the best technical U16 team in Southern California. The BU16 soundly beat Chivas USA with a mastery of the ball rarely seen at this age level. In Sunday’s other game, the BU18 again showed not just their “class” with the ball, but also their character. Perhaps a little too giddy from the prior day’s thumping of the Galaxy, the U18 fell behind 3-1 early, before rallying in the final few minutes for a 3-3 draw.