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SPORTS

Team outscores foes 67-1 in Copa Al Dia

11:48 PM CDT on Sunday, August 17, 2008

By GABRIEL CABARROUY / The Dallas Morning News
gcabarrouy@dallasnews.com

LEWISVILLE – Club Deportivo Independiente coach Antonio Radilla only wanted to display his players' talents at the Copa Al Dia.

But Independiente embarrassed the competition.

It outscored opponents, 67-1, in six games, including a 10-0 win over Arsenal in the U-14 final Sunday at Lewisville's Bob Wiseman Soccer Complex.

BEN TORRES / Al Día
BEN TORRES / Al Día
Barcelona players celebrate after winning the Copa Al Dia championship in the 16-and-under divison.

Forwards Nestor Celestino of Pleasant Grove and Enrique Rangel of Fort Worth combined for 33 goals. The only goal against was the results of misunderstanding.

Independiente played with eight players for part of the first half of its semifinal. Apparently some of the team were unaware of the actual kickoff time. It still won, 10-1.

Its dominance shouldn't come as a surprise.

Independiente, ranked No. 9 in the region by U.S. Youth soccer, clinched a spot in next year's Dallas Cup after a 3-2 win over the Dallas Texans in the final at the Classic League's North America Memorial Day Cup.

Next up is the Classic League's first division, which features the elite teams of North Texas: Solar SC, Dallas Texans, FC Dallas youth and Andromeda.

Radilla had hoped to find a business sponsors at the Al Dia Cup.

"We don't have the resources that other big youth clubs have," said Radilla, whose club was founded 10 years ago among Hispanics who can't afford the other select teams.

Barcelona triumphs: Midfielder David Robledo scored the lone goal early in the second half and led Barcelona to the Copa Al Dia's U-16 title with a 1-0 win over O.C. United.

His heroics could only help his case as a scout from the Mexican team Chivas de Guadalajara was in attendance to watch the Hillcrest sophomore and other players.

David's father and head coach of Barcelona, Enrique Robledo, was cautiously optimistic.

"It's OK, but I know there is a long road ahead," Enrique said. "I want him to focus on school."

Mexican player considered MLS: Former Chivas de Guadalajara midfielder Manuel Sol said he considered playing for his team's MLS counterpart, the Chivas USA, last season.

"I was interested," Sol said. "I think the level of playing in the MLS has improved."

But Sol, who took part of Sunday's trophies ceremonies at Copa Al Dia, couldn't reach an agreement. Instead, he played one more season in Mexico before he retired in 2007.

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