Tuesday, July 24, 2018 -- Day 1 at the 2018 US Youth Soccer National Championships is in the books for Tuzos 02 Boys and Phoenix Rising FC Youth Soccer 00 Girls (Scottsdale Blackhawks).
Both squads enter this year's tournament with a little experience under their belts as they both competed at the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Championships. Tuzos 02 Boys suffered a loss in the 15U Championship match while Phoenix Rising FC Youth Soccer was eliminated in group play.
This year, the Arizona Soccer Association will be providing daily recaps.
Tuzos 02 Boys - 16U
In their opening match, Tuzos 02 Boys played Washington Premier 02 (WA) to a 2-2 draw in a match that was featured on YouTube (click here to watch the full match).
Washington jumped out to a 1-0 lead just four minutes into the match when a Washington player headed home a set piece from the left side. Tuzos answered the early deficit just nine minutes later when Marlon Arce-Valdez broke free down the left wing and played a cross into the box. Jason Villalba, who scored four goals at the 2017 US Youth Soccer National Championships, ran to the spot and redirected the ball into the back of the net.
Tuzos then grabbed the lead in the 53rd minute when Villalba played a ball over the top. The ball took two bounces just outside of the penalty box. As the Washington goalkeeper hesitated on clearing the dangerous ball, Alexis Avila chipped the ball over the goalkeeper for the goal.
Tuzos, unfortunately, allowed another goal, this one in the 62nd minute.
Up next for Tuzos is Club Ohio Green (OH) on Wednesday. Ohio Green suffered a 2-1 loss to Solar 02 Striker (TX), the fourth member of the group, on Tuesday.
Phoenix Rising FC Youth Soccer
Phoenix Rising FC Youth Soccer 00 Girls found themselves down early in the match as Campton United (IL) scored in the 10th and 14 minutes.
Stanford commit, Emily Chao cut Campton's lead in half with a goal in the 49th minute. Phoenix Rising FC Youth Soccer was unable to score a second before time expired.
Up next for Phoenix Rising FC Youth Soccer is CDA Slammers FC (CA) who suffered a 1-0 loss to Sunrise Sting (FL), the other team in the group. This match will be streamed LIVE on YouTube (click here to watch) at 11AM.