2008 Dallas Cup Underway...

I'm a little slow on the uptake here at FCTP. I remember hearing the Dallas Cup was in March, and then I totally spaced it. All is not lost, they're still playing down in Frisco. The semi-finals of the Super Group are coming up and will pit CF Monterrey (Mex) vs. Tigres (Mex) and Liverpool (Eng) vs. Benfica (Port). Liverpool has been on a goal scoring tear as they won one game by a score of 9-0 against Ryutsu Keizai Kashiwa. Not sure where they're from.

Houston Dynamo cruised through their group in the U-19 group. They scored 10 goals while giving up zero. To be fair, so did Solar SC also from Texas, but they only scored 9.

Some more tidbits from the Dallas Cup Blog.

- FC Dallas hitman Kenny Cooper has a younger brother, Joe Cooper, playing in the U-19 bracket. I'm sure big brother hasn't told the Dallas coaching staff about him...no not at all.

- Dennis Wise, former Chelsea captain, was inspecting the Dallas Cup action Sunday. Wise is now director of football operations for Newcastle. He said he'd like to bring over a Newcastle side next year. Michael Owen still looks young, maybe he can help them through the Super Group.

- Andromeda, a Texan club side, beat Brazilian giants Sao Paulo by a score of 5-2.

- There is a reason Liverpool is killing. They brought many of their reserve team players who are young enough to compete. If you play Football Manager, you'll undoubtedly recognize the following names: Forward Craig Lindfield, already appeared for England’s Under-19 national team. Defender Stephen Darby, whom Liverpool took as a backup into a Champions League match earlier this year. Defender Emiliano Insua, who has already appeared for Argentina’s Under-20s.

Check back on the Dallas Cup website to see who comes out on top in each of the tough brackets.