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USC 04/05 Boys end in 3-3 draw with ATL UTD

By USC, 06/10/19, 7:45AM CDT

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USC 04/05 Boys end in 3-3 draw with Atlanta United

On June 5, 2019, the USC 05/04 Boys traveled to Atlanta as well to compete against a group of Atlanta United 06/05 Boys. The boys came out playing extremely well going back and forth with the National powerhouse opponent. The Atlanta 06 Boys are a legitimate top 10 team in the country in youth soccer, and the 05 Atlanta United Boys are among the top 5, and compete at the highest standard internationally having just won the Manchester City Cup in the U14B International Super Group a couple weeks ago defeating teams like Manchester City 05B (England), Seattle Sounders 05B (USA), and Monterrey FC Rayados 05B (Mexico). 

This was a tremendous opportunity for the USC Boys, and they responded to the task in tremendous fashion representing our program and our city in an excellent way.
The boys came out playing extremely well going back and forth with the National powerhouse opponent. But a little nerves got the best of us and we gave up an accidental goal about 12 minutes in. The boys continued fighting, but Atlanta United skill and precision found a second goal at around the 22 minute mark. USC settled in and continued fighting and great pressure from Nolan Peffer, Luke Boseck and Jared Smid paid off as Jared Smid laid a beautiful ball across the 18 to an open Juan Manuel Juan Gazga who calmly put away a cracking shot to bring the score to 2-1 as the half approached.

Second half, USC came out playing well again, but the 3.5 hour drive over may have had some impact for a while, accompanied with superior level of play by Atlanta United, and USC found themselves reeling for a bit trying to keep up and contain the relentless ball movement and pressure from Atlanta United. 20 minutes into the second half, Atlanta United capitalized on a clearance issue and went ahead 3-1. 

USC looked tired and uncertain how to work back into the game. But the core of this group have played high level games before, and have always had a winning attitude and expectancy to compete to the end of the game, and they did no different this time. USC Coaches Mike Latty and Phil Moyer made some nice tactical adjustments for the remaining moments of the game, and the boys responded. With 12 minutes remaining in the game, Quin Mitchell served in a nice free kick that found Juan Gazga on the back post side of the box who out jumped the Atlanta United defense winning a header sending Bryce Burdette in on a perfectly timed run to cleanly slot the ball past the Atl Utd keeper (3-2).

Then with seconds left in the game, USC did not give up, and Aubrey Tedesco won a loose ball, finding Jorge Torres in the midfield who made a beautiful turn, and found Juan Gazga on a nice run towards goal. Juan with his second assist of the match laid in a well weighted one touch ball behind the Atl United back line to find Luke Boseck on a perfectly timed run. Luke, like he has so many times before stayed calm, and held off two Atlanta United defenders while he cooly slipped the tying goal past the Atlanta United keeper in the closing seconds of the match.

Within seconds the final whistle blew, and the final score:

Atlanta United - 3
Huntsville United - 3

We are extremely proud of all of our boys. They all fought until the very end of the match showing a lot heart and belief. They also displayed a good level of skill, team work and understanding of how to play the game at a high level, against one of the top programs in the country. Congratulations to Coach Paul Tedesco, Phil Moyer, and Paul Cano, and these hard working boys and families.

Up next for the USC 05B Premier, and the USC 04 Boys Premier, the USYS Regional Championships in Baton Rouge, LA June 20-24. 

After that, a group of the boys will also be traveling to Mexico this summer to take on Top Mexican Youth Professional Teams, Chivas FC, Atlas FC, and Tecos FC.