TDP Elite Results - Houston - 8/21 & 8/22
Aug 23, 2021 9:21:51 GMT -6
premier and Cooldaddy like this
Post by viewgator91 on Aug 23, 2021 9:21:51 GMT -6
Rookie level recap of the first weekend of competition for the new TDP Elite teams. The heat was brutal, but the kids got in great work and I'm sure the coaches learned a lot about their teams. I was curious going into the weekend with the question "can we compete" because these teams have similar talent and coaching but have been together for many years playing at this level. The short answer was yes.
Saturday - Rise hosted all age-groups for a round of friendly games. 2 referee format with 2 40 minute halves split with water breaks at 20 minutes in. This club is a (Frontier) league opponent. The competition was great and you could tell the TDP boys were excited to take the field for the first time.
The first games were 2007B and the 03/04B team. I watched the 2007B team. First half you could tell they had never really played a game together. Possession was pretty even. The game was fast and challenges were very physical. Early in the match Rise caused a defensive turnover with high pressure and was able to get in on goal 1v1 and scored to go up 1-0. TDP responded very well scoring 2 goals over the next 10 minutes to take a 2-1 halftime lead. I ran over to check on the 03/04B score and they were down 1-0 nearing half. Second half started for the 2007B group and they were coming together. Admittedly, there is no telling what either of the coaching staffs are looking at, but the TDP boys took control. Possession shifted in favor of TDP and most of the game was played in their half. Rise wore out and TDP ended up taking the 4-1 W. Very impressive outing for the first game played by the 15s. 03/04B ended up falling 2-1.
The second hour was 2008B and 2005B. I watched the 2008B. This was another competitive matchup of league opponents who are scheduled to play their league game in 3 weeks. I was impressed by the size and speed of a few of the Rise boys. The TDP group started a little faster and scored 2 goals pretty early (maybe 10 minutes) with a powerful offensive attack. Things settled down and both teams played pretty even to the first water break. Coming back from break, Rise turned up the pressure and forced a few errors by the back line. The big striker ended up picking up a loose ball in front of goal and smoked a power shot into the top of the net. The pressure didn't let up and they were able to tie the score at 2 shortly after the first goal. TDP was able to get a counter attack goal just before half to take the 3-2 lead into half. At this point it was too hot to walk the 300 or so yards to go check on the 2005B team at half. Second half started up for the 2008B and you could tell we were slowing down. Rise took control and was able to score two goals over the next 20+ minutes to go up 4-3. Last segment TDP started battling back but a questionable foul call in the box on a slide tackle led to a PK for Rise and a 5-3 score. TDP continued to battle and scored a pretty goal to close out the scoring. Rise takes the W 5-4. Not a bad showing for the 2008 TDP boys vs a top 30 nationally ranked opponent in their first game ever. 2005B team had a respectable 3-1 L result, but I don't have details on this game.
The final hour was 2009B and 2006B. Both of these teams seem to be strong and I stayed on the same field and watched the 2009B team. 2009 U13s are first year 11v11 so both teams are figuring out what they have. I really like the 2009 TDP team. They have some good pieces and this game was another even matchup. Possession was similar first half with TDP having two great chances, one of which hit the crossbar, and Rise not having good looks. The game went into half 0-0. Second half the TDP boys looked a little stronger with chances and finally a chance found the net with a nice shot from ~25 yards out over the keepers head for a 1-0 lead. TDP continued to have the better looks and eventually went up 2-0 late in the game. We decided to escape the heat and find something to eat and left he fields. 2009B ended up winning 2-1 and the 2006B fell 3-1 (heard from several parents that there was a no call goal that crossed the line for TDP).
Overall a very productive day vs a future league opponent.
Sunday - 2008B and 2009B were hosted by Houston Dynamo academy teams. This was a 3 30 minute segment, no referee format to get 90 minutes of high level play and great conditioning early in the pre-season.
The 2009B team played at 1pm vs the top Houston Dynamo academy team most of which will make up their MLS Next squad. They had a few players that really stood out. Their midfielder and right wing were very impressive players. Like I said above, the 2009B have some really good pieces and were able to match them and slow them down. Dynamo had a good advantage when it comes to possession and shots on goal. The only scoring early was a clearly offside goal by Dynamo. TDP was able to produce a few counter attack opportunities and hung with them for 90 minutes. Dynamo did a full 11 shift for the second segment and wore down the TDP boys. Last segment they went back with their strong lineup and mixed the boys around some. TDP fought to the very end and the final was 3-2 in favor of Dynamo. I was impressed with the result not knowing what either coaching staff was working on.
The 2008B played the #1 ranked Houston Dynamo academy team at 1:30pm. Houston had a few of their top players out of town at an event, but some familiar faces were in the lineup. This was also played in 3 30 minute segments. I was impressed by TDP's ability to steal some possession and even get some great looks at goal. Both sides battled very hard and physical for the first 30 minutes with a few fouls that didn't get called by either staff. Overall a pretty even 30 minutes that ended up 0-0. Second 30 minutes didn't go as well for TDP. Dynamo was able to take advantage with physical play and scored 4 goals before the last water break. TDP regrouped for the last 30 and made a few adjustments to players and battled the last 30 minute segment that turned into pure conditioning and heart in the brutal heat. Dynamo was able to create a turnover in the defensive end with high pressure and netted only 1 goal in the last segment for a 1-0 final. So 5-0 with some great looks at goal over 90 minutes vs the top team in the 2008B group was a decent result for the first weekend on the pitch.
Overall the weekend seemed very productive and confirmed we can compete at this level in friendly competition. The next question will be can we compete in the Frontier group when the game matters.
Also, the weekend wasn't all work and no play as many of the boys were able to take in the Houston Dynamo vs FC Dallas "Texas Derby" that ended in a 2-2 draw!
Saturday - Rise hosted all age-groups for a round of friendly games. 2 referee format with 2 40 minute halves split with water breaks at 20 minutes in. This club is a (Frontier) league opponent. The competition was great and you could tell the TDP boys were excited to take the field for the first time.
The first games were 2007B and the 03/04B team. I watched the 2007B team. First half you could tell they had never really played a game together. Possession was pretty even. The game was fast and challenges were very physical. Early in the match Rise caused a defensive turnover with high pressure and was able to get in on goal 1v1 and scored to go up 1-0. TDP responded very well scoring 2 goals over the next 10 minutes to take a 2-1 halftime lead. I ran over to check on the 03/04B score and they were down 1-0 nearing half. Second half started for the 2007B group and they were coming together. Admittedly, there is no telling what either of the coaching staffs are looking at, but the TDP boys took control. Possession shifted in favor of TDP and most of the game was played in their half. Rise wore out and TDP ended up taking the 4-1 W. Very impressive outing for the first game played by the 15s. 03/04B ended up falling 2-1.
The second hour was 2008B and 2005B. I watched the 2008B. This was another competitive matchup of league opponents who are scheduled to play their league game in 3 weeks. I was impressed by the size and speed of a few of the Rise boys. The TDP group started a little faster and scored 2 goals pretty early (maybe 10 minutes) with a powerful offensive attack. Things settled down and both teams played pretty even to the first water break. Coming back from break, Rise turned up the pressure and forced a few errors by the back line. The big striker ended up picking up a loose ball in front of goal and smoked a power shot into the top of the net. The pressure didn't let up and they were able to tie the score at 2 shortly after the first goal. TDP was able to get a counter attack goal just before half to take the 3-2 lead into half. At this point it was too hot to walk the 300 or so yards to go check on the 2005B team at half. Second half started up for the 2008B and you could tell we were slowing down. Rise took control and was able to score two goals over the next 20+ minutes to go up 4-3. Last segment TDP started battling back but a questionable foul call in the box on a slide tackle led to a PK for Rise and a 5-3 score. TDP continued to battle and scored a pretty goal to close out the scoring. Rise takes the W 5-4. Not a bad showing for the 2008 TDP boys vs a top 30 nationally ranked opponent in their first game ever. 2005B team had a respectable 3-1 L result, but I don't have details on this game.
The final hour was 2009B and 2006B. Both of these teams seem to be strong and I stayed on the same field and watched the 2009B team. 2009 U13s are first year 11v11 so both teams are figuring out what they have. I really like the 2009 TDP team. They have some good pieces and this game was another even matchup. Possession was similar first half with TDP having two great chances, one of which hit the crossbar, and Rise not having good looks. The game went into half 0-0. Second half the TDP boys looked a little stronger with chances and finally a chance found the net with a nice shot from ~25 yards out over the keepers head for a 1-0 lead. TDP continued to have the better looks and eventually went up 2-0 late in the game. We decided to escape the heat and find something to eat and left he fields. 2009B ended up winning 2-1 and the 2006B fell 3-1 (heard from several parents that there was a no call goal that crossed the line for TDP).
Overall a very productive day vs a future league opponent.
Sunday - 2008B and 2009B were hosted by Houston Dynamo academy teams. This was a 3 30 minute segment, no referee format to get 90 minutes of high level play and great conditioning early in the pre-season.
The 2009B team played at 1pm vs the top Houston Dynamo academy team most of which will make up their MLS Next squad. They had a few players that really stood out. Their midfielder and right wing were very impressive players. Like I said above, the 2009B have some really good pieces and were able to match them and slow them down. Dynamo had a good advantage when it comes to possession and shots on goal. The only scoring early was a clearly offside goal by Dynamo. TDP was able to produce a few counter attack opportunities and hung with them for 90 minutes. Dynamo did a full 11 shift for the second segment and wore down the TDP boys. Last segment they went back with their strong lineup and mixed the boys around some. TDP fought to the very end and the final was 3-2 in favor of Dynamo. I was impressed with the result not knowing what either coaching staff was working on.
The 2008B played the #1 ranked Houston Dynamo academy team at 1:30pm. Houston had a few of their top players out of town at an event, but some familiar faces were in the lineup. This was also played in 3 30 minute segments. I was impressed by TDP's ability to steal some possession and even get some great looks at goal. Both sides battled very hard and physical for the first 30 minutes with a few fouls that didn't get called by either staff. Overall a pretty even 30 minutes that ended up 0-0. Second 30 minutes didn't go as well for TDP. Dynamo was able to take advantage with physical play and scored 4 goals before the last water break. TDP regrouped for the last 30 and made a few adjustments to players and battled the last 30 minute segment that turned into pure conditioning and heart in the brutal heat. Dynamo was able to create a turnover in the defensive end with high pressure and netted only 1 goal in the last segment for a 1-0 final. So 5-0 with some great looks at goal over 90 minutes vs the top team in the 2008B group was a decent result for the first weekend on the pitch.
Overall the weekend seemed very productive and confirmed we can compete at this level in friendly competition. The next question will be can we compete in the Frontier group when the game matters.
Also, the weekend wasn't all work and no play as many of the boys were able to take in the Houston Dynamo vs FC Dallas "Texas Derby" that ended in a 2-2 draw!