http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ym...s&fext=.jsp


Inaugural SUM U-17 Cup to be played in conjunction with 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game
Tournament showcasing 11 MLS youth development teams to kickoff July 13
Major League Soccer Communications


NEW YORK and DENVER - Soccer United Marketing's inaugural Youth Development soccer tournament, SUM U-17 Cup, kicks off on Friday, July 13 at the soccer complex at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., and is being held in conjunction with the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game. The tournament features 12 MLS U-17 Youth Development teams and will culminate in the championship game on the Dick's Sporting Goods Park stadium field the morning of Thursday, July 19 at 10 a.m. MT.

"The U-17 Cup gives elite young players the chance to play in a first class tournament, with world-class facilities, against their counterparts at other MLS U-17 Youth Development Teams" said MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis. "This is a very exciting first step for these new youth teams, and the winners of the tournament will move on to an internationally-renowned youth tournament in Spain that will test them against some of the best young players in the world."

The 12-team pool is comprised of the U-17 teams of all MLS clubs excluding Toronto FC and the New England Revolution and with two teams representing the Colorado Rapids. The tournament format will feature three groups of four with the group winners and the best second place team advancing to the semi finals which take place on Tuesday, July 17. The champion will take home the SUM U-17 Cup and earns the opportunity to participate in the 2008 Torneo Quixote in Spain.

Participating coaches will benefit from coaching seminars led by Major League Soccer official Alfonso Mondelo, who serves as Technical Director of Player Programs. The tournament finalists will be invited to watch the MLS All-Stars training session at Dick's Sporting Goods Park stadium field on Wednesday, July 18 as they prepare to face Celtic FC in the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game. Additionally, this tournament is being hosted at no cost to all participants as Soccer United Marketing and participating MLS Teams are covering the costs of player travel, accommodations and other tournament-related expenses.

The preliminary SUM U-17 Cup schedule is as follows with the first three rounds and all semi-final matches to be held in the complex adjacent to Dicks Sporting Goods Park. The tournament final is scheduled to be played on the Colorado Rapids game field at Dick's Sporting Goods Park the morning of the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game.

(All times local/Schedule and locations subject to change)

Date/Game Time Matchup Location
July 13, 5:30pm - 7pm 1 - Rapids A v United DSGP Complex Field 1
2 - FCD v N.Y. DSGP Complex Field 2
3 - Fire v Dynamo DSGP Complex Field 3

July 13, 7:30pm - 9pm 4 - RSL v Crew DSGP Complex Field 4
5 - Chivas USA v Wizards DSGP Complex Field 5
6 - Rapids B v Galaxy DSGP Complex Field 6

July 14, 5pm - 6:30pm 7 - United v Crew DSGP Complex Field 1
8 - N.Y. v Wizards DSGP Complex Field 2
9 - Rapids B v Fire DSGP Complex Field 3

July 14, 7pm - 8:30pm 10 - Rapids A v RSL DSGP Complex Field 4
11 - FCD v Chivas USA DSGP Complex Field 5
12 - Dynamo v Galaxy DSGP Complex Field 6

July 16, 5pm - 6:30pm 13 - United v RSL DSGP Complex Field 1
14 - N.Y. v Chivas USA DSGP Complex Field 2
15 - Dynamo v Rapids B DSGP Complex Field 3

July 16, 7pm - 8:30pm 16 - Rapids A v Crew DSGP Complex Field 4
17 - FCD v Wizards DSGP Complex Field 5
18 - Fire v Galaxy DSGP Complex Field 6

Semifinals
July 17, 7pm - 8:30pm 1st Seed v 4th Seed Field 1
2nd Seed v 3rd Seed Field 2

Championship Game
July 19, 10:00-11:30am Semifinal winners DSGP Stadium

About the SUM U-17 Cup
As a part of the "Home Grown Initiative," the SUM U-17 Cup will focus on player development while providing elite competition for those involved this year and every year thereafter. Offering its participants a great opportunity for dedicated, elite soccer players to meet in a high-level playing environment, the SUM U-17 Cup will be both challenging and rewarding for everyone involved.

About the Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game
The 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game will feature the best in Major League Soccer versus Celtic FC of the Scottish Premier League. The game will be played on July 19 at 7:00 p.m. MT at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., the new home of the Colorado Rapids. This will be the fourth time that the Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game has followed this format, adopted to ensure the most intriguing All-Star spectacle in U.S. professional sports. Last year, the MLS All-Stars defeated English Premier League power Chelsea FC, 1-0, at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. on a goal by Houston Dynamo midfielder Dwayne De Rosario. In 2005, the MLS stars defeated English Premier League club Fulham FC, 4-1, at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. In 2003, the MLS All-Stars downed Mexican club Chivas de Guadalajara, 3-1, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Very cool

Great idea, need to be better at the youth level, hope this is a step forward and leads to other ideas.

United claims SUM U-17 crown
Black-and-Red youth side to take part in 2008 Torneo Quixote
By Jonathan Nierman / MLSnet.com Staff

http://dcunited.mlsnet.com/news/team_news....p&team=t103

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- D.C. United were crowned champions of the inaugural SUM U-17 Cup on Thursday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, defeating the Kansas City Wizards 3-0 just hours before the MLS All-Stars will face Celtic FC on the same field.
Forward Chris Hegngi led the way for the Black-and-Red, finding the net in each half while Darrell Edwards' finish just minutes after kickoff put D.C. United on the winning path.

D.C. came out on the attack from the opening whistle and came within inches of taking the lead after three minutes. William Bioh laid the ball off to Hegngi, who fired a shot off the base of the left post. The rebound fell back to Bioh, who fired over the top.

But United were not denied just two minutes later when midfielder Edwards picked up a loose ball deep in Kansas City's area, danced into the box and blasted a shot with the outside of his right foot into the upper left corner of the net.

The lead was stretched to 2-0 just before the quarter-hour mark. United midfielder Shane Cooke got free down the left flank and laid back a cross from the endline for a shot that was partially blocked. But Hegngi was on hand to clean up the mess. His shot toward the back post was nearly cleared off the line by a defender, but there was just enough power on it to slip behind the line.

The Wizards then began to have a little bit more of the play, trying to get forward to slim the deficit before the halftime break. Midfielder Alex Sweetin served up a cross from the left flank that was easily collected by D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid in the 16th minute. Shortly thereafter Sweetin tried his luck from long range, but his low effort skipped well wide of the target.

Kansas City's best scoring chance of the opening stanza came from a free kick in the 33rd minute. After Christian Duke was brought down just on the edge of the box, he laid off the ensuing free kick to Sweetin, but his shot whistled just over the crossbar.

The Wizards probably should have cut into D.C.'s lead just seconds after the intermission, but Taylor Knoll's half-volley from inside the right of the penalty area was mis-hit and ended up in the bleachers behind the goal.

Ten minutes after the restart Kansas City had another chance. Mohammed Ramahi found space down the left flank and attempted a low cross that was only partially cleared. Patrick Foglio was at the top of the penalty area to meet the rebound, but his effort went on the wrong side of the back right post.

United then extended their lead to 3-0 in the 55th minute when they took advantage of a defensive miscue by the Wizards. Bioh dispossessed his man in K.C.'s defensive third and raced in alone against Krueger. A smart square pass from Bioh left little for Hegngi to do but tap the ball into the unguarded net.

There was nearly a fourth for D.C. in the 65th minute, but the crossbar came to the aid of the Wizards this time as a strong header off a corner kick rattled the woodwork.

Kansas City then had a pair of chances, which both fell to Kevin Ellis. Saves by Hamid and substitute 'keeper Samir Badr kept the clean sheet intact for United as they held onto their lead and lifted the trophy after the final whistle.

Is there anything we DON'T win first?

Supporter's Sheild I believe.

Not impressed BK.

Oh, and if I remember the Crew Youth club dropped the Semis to KC.
<cue CrewKing>

Those evil slimey vermin!

To be honest, I didn't think KC had enough youth soccer players to do that well. My picks would've been LA and Chivas (SoCal has a great talent pool), DC, or Chicago.