The Sporting Kansas City U-18s' remarkable run through the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs came to an end Thursday night with a 1-0 extra-time defeat to FC Dallas in Frisco, Texas. The loss brings an end to a 2015-16 campaign that saw the U-18s advance to the USSDA quarterfinals for the first time in team history.
The lone wildcard team to reach the quarterfinal stage of the USSDA Playoffs, Sporting KC traveled south to the Toyota Soccer Center for a matchup against the highest-seeded club remaining in the 32-team tournament. A hotly contested game remained scoreless through regulation and was ultimately decided by Giovanni Montesdeoca's goal in the 108th minute, sending FC Dallas to the USSDA semifinals next Thursday at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, California.
Led by head coach Jon Parry and looking to avenge a 6-0 setback to FC Dallas in May, the Sporting KC U-18s delivered an inspired performance Thursday against their Frontier Division rivals. Paul Whitener was on the receiving end of Sporting KC's first scoring chance in the 25th minute, directing a Nansel Selbol cross on target, but FC Dallas goalkeeper Ben Hale was equal to it. At the other end of the field, Swope Park Rangers signing Steve Tekesky made a series of impressive saves throughout regulation to keep the hosts off the scoreboard.
Sporting KC found a second gear after the restart and came agonizingly close to taking the lead on 54 minutes. Absalom Solorio played Selbol through on goal, but the SPR striker's shot took a deflection and caromed out of play off the post.
Tekesky produced his best save of the match in the 70th minute, denying a snap shot from close range. Sporting KC survived another scare with three minutes left in regulation after a 40-yard blast from an FC Dallas attacker rattled the crossbar and was subsequently cleared.
FC Dallas provided the final sting in the tale after earning a free kick outside the box in the 108th minute. An in-swinging delivery from the right wing pinged around the penalty area before Montesdeoca hammered home to give his side a 1-0 advantage. Sporting KC threw numbers forward in a last-gasp bid to find an equalizer, but to no avail.
