The Mercedes-Benz Junior Cup is an annual indoor soccer tournament featuring some of the top clubs from around the world. The U.S. has been drawn into Group A and will compete against club teams from Lechia Danzig (Poland), VfB Stuttgart (Germany) and FSV Mainz 05 (France). Group B includes Lazio (Italy), Celtic Glasgow (Scotland), SC Freiburg (Germany) and Hamburger SV (Germany).
Top, who signed as FC Dallas’ fifth Home Grown player on Jan. 12, 2011 was the leading scorer for the FC Dallas Under-18 Development Academy team in 2010. He made one appearance for the FC Dallas first team in 2011. In the annual home-and-away exhibition match, Top netted the fourth of six goals which led to an FC Dallas victory in the penalty-kick shootout. Top, who will turn 19 on Jan. 26, also saw 374 minutes of action with the FC Dallas Reserves.
In addition, FC Dallas Academy products Mike Ambrose, Boyd Okwuonu, Daniel Garcia and Flavio Guzman were called in to the first U.S. Under-20 National Team camp of 2012 by head coach Tab Ramos. The 36-player training camp will be held Jan. 2-9 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Garcia and Ambrose saw time with the FC Dallas Reserves in 2011. Garcia had two goals in 80 minutes of action while Ambrose logged 242 minutes as a defender. Also a defender, Okwuonu won the ACC regular season title, the ACC tournament title and the NCAA Championship as a freshman with the University of North Carolina. He was named to the College Soccer News Freshman All-America Team. Guzman was the only player with the FC Dallas Under-18’s to start all 13 games this season. The midfielder netted three goals for the 11-0-2 squad.
AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS
Play Podcast Marc Stein and Steve Davis review all the latest happenings with the U.S. national soccer team in the wake of its big win over Panama in Seattle.
Play Podcast Marc Stein and Steve Davis relive all the ins and outs from the United States' 2-1 victory in Jamaica and start looking forward with a preview of what awaits the national team Tuesday in Seattle against Panama.
Play Podcast It's a national team-centric episode of Soccer Today, which Marc Stein and Steve Davis commence by looking ahead to Sunday's friendly against Germany in the nation's capital and reviewing Wednesday's 4-2 defeat to Belgium in Cleveland.
Play Podcast Marc Stein and Steve Davis discuss the big news that Manchester City and the New York Yankees are joining forces to own Major League Soccer's 20th franchise.
Play Podcast Marc Stein and Steve Davis discuss to the retirements of Sir Alex Ferguson and David Beckham as well as Landon Donovan's omission from Jurgen Klinsmann's national team roster.
Play Podcast Soccer Today broadcasts an international edition with Marc Stein in London to cover the FA Cup final for ESPNFC, while Steve Davis joins from the ESPN Dallas studios in Las Colinas.
Play Podcast Robbie Rogers joins Soccer Today to discuss his MLS comeback plans, what it's been like for him at the Galaxy's training ground after he said in February that he is gay and needed to step away and Jason Collins' announcement in the NBA.
Play Podcast It's a travelogue edition of Soccer Today with Marc Stein in Houston covering the NBA playoffs and Steve Davis just back from a trip to the nation's capital to visit Jurgen Klinsmann. The guys kick off the morning by sharing stories from the road.
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