The 2019-20 US Development Academy season kicked off for the FC Dallas boys this last weekend against Houston Dynamo. FCD rolled out a 4-0-1 record on the day from U13s up to the U19s.

U13s: 3-1

U14s: 3-0

U15s: 3-2

U17s: 2-2

U19s: 9-1

These games for the oldest three age brackets are part of the new DA Cup system.

As usual here at 3rd Degree, we're interested in the Academy from the pathway to the pros angle. I got to take in the U19s and U17s so here's a short scouting of some players that jumped out at me.

FC Dallas U19s vs Houston - 9 to 1

Yes, 9 goals to 1. And Houston scored first on a counter.

Here's the U19s (2001s & 2002s) starting FCD lineup.

FC Dallas U19 starting XI vs Houston Dynamo. (9-1-19) (3rd Degree / Buzz Carrick)

Subs: Andres Dicun (coming over from Solar SC) came on for Rayo and Jonathan Gomez came on for Veloz both in the 63rd minute. Then in the 71st, Rafael Pinzon Corral came on for Tessmann and Michael Sosa for Garcia.

FCD Goals: Bonilla had a brace coming from right back. Henry-Scott a hat trick. Tessmann scored from 35 yards out. Gomez and Dicun scored as subs, Gomez literally scored seconds after coming on. Redzic had one as well.

I've talked quite a bit in the past about Tanner Tessmann, Jonathan Gomez, Kevin Bonilla, Beni Redzic, and Gibran Rayo before. You don't need to hear about them again. They all played exactly as I expected.

But there are three players I do feel are worth a specific mention.

According to the DA stat page, Malik Henry-Scott didn't play a lot last year for the U19s. I certainly don't remember him much at all. But wow did he make an impression in this one. It's not just the hat-trick he scored - there were a lot of goals, it was 9 to 1 - but more his athleticism. He's got fantastic balance and body control and looks like a special athlete. Really fast with a burst and he also had a really nice touch on display. He's kind of a straight-line player, runs at and by people, and isn't looking to play tight space passing. But he was eye-opening, to say the least. I'm gonna be watching and see if this form continues.

Update: Henry-Scott played for FC Dallas Youth '00 coached by Chris Che last year... 28 goals in 26 games.

Cesar Garcia is coming up from the U17s for his first run as a U19. Today he's playing the 10-type role in the FCD 4-3-3. Like the senior side, this is a 6-8-10 look but he's doing the defensive work just like Paxton Pomkyal and Jesus Ferreira are asked to. I saw him a few times last year and thought well of him, but he was admittedly overshadowed by his teammates David Rodriguez and Diego Lateyf. Garcia has taken a leap forward and is really impressive in this one. On several occasions, he made some surprising choices that opened the game and created opportunities. This is not the player I remember. Along with Tessmann, he dismantles the Houston midfield.

I've raved about Diego Letayf in the past He's so smooth, just beautiful with the ball. He plays as a 6 with his game reading, positional sense, nipping the ball off players, and cutting out passes. He's not at all physical and is loath to tackle hard. He does look today like he's new to playing with most of this group though. Or perhaps he's just missed too much time due to Mexico call ups? On two occasions he passes blind to where he expects a teammate to be, only to not have anyone there. The first such pass set up the Dynamo's lone goal. I'm sure this kink will be worked out - Tessmann did some talking with him about it - but it's unusual for Letayf to be that sloppy.

FC Dallas U17s vs Houston - 2 to 2

This U17 team (2003s & 2004s) is new, basically brand new. They lost some of their key players and had to bring in a bunch of new faces. They had a rough go at the LigaMX Sub International Tournament last month as they try and learn to play together. Improvements are beginning but it's going to take some time.

This is also the group that has already had Ricardo Pepi and Dante Sealy signed from it.

This is the first time I've seen a Houston Dynamo team outplay an FC Dallas team as the Orange dominate possession in the first half. The FCD first-half goal to keep it just 2-1 was completely against the run of play and was 95% from the work rate and tenacity of Collin Smith.

FC Dallas U17 starting XI vs Houston Dynamo. (9-1-19) (3rd Degree / Buzz Carrick)

Subs: The halftime subs by FCD of Alcibiades Duran Jr and Ty Reynolds for Fragle and Alvarado changed the game for FCD and made it an even affair. Later as Houston subbed players in the balanced shifted to FCD and the last quarter of the game was controlled by the North Texas side. In the 84th minute, Santiago Ferreira - yes bother of Jesus - and Philip Akem came on for Reynolds and Medina

FCD Goals: Medina finished off a play that was a Smith carry from midfield all the way to the end line and then into the box. Sterns get the 2nd goal by finishing off a free-kick from deep on the right wing.

I'm going to give this team and all their players a large dose of patience. They deserve a lot of time to grow together and get things straightened out before I start really forming an idea about them. Any U17 side is one I'm just starting to do in-depth scouting of anyway, this one way more than the others before.

But I do have a couple of first impressions to share.

Jonathan Dadzie came over from Sacramento Republic FC and Slade Starnes up from FCD premier so you can image how raw that partnership is. But they did fairly well, with lots of talk and communication holding their defense together. Starns looked about 6'3" from the where I was sitting and reminded me of Clarence Goodson as he's got a little grit.

Left wing Jose Gutierrez, who has come over from Dallas Texans, looks promising. He took a while to get into the game but continued to work his tail off and wore down the opposition. The longer the game went, the better and more confident he looked. There might be something here.

Alcibiades Duran Jr according to google came from Louisiana Fire Juniors, which is a Chicago Fire youth/feeder club, and the Louisiana ODP. He made a good impression coming on at halftime, playing a linking 8-type roll, and taking control of the midfield. I want to see more.

Right back Eduardo Ruiz made a solid start, showing the get-up-the-field mentality that FCD wants from their outside backs. Particularly so when Ty Reynolds, a player he has grown up playing with, was in front of him.

Las Vegas Sports Academy 03 Silver, 2019 USYS U16 National Champs. (USYS)

Alex Alvarado, I learned from someone on the sideline, has joined FCD from Las Vegas Sports Academy 03 Silver who are the 2019 USYS U16 Boys National Champs. Apparently a fair number of their players have jumped to various MLS Academy programs.

Two Houston Dynamo players of note - They were led by the #27 Juan Castilla, who is one heck of an attacking mid and scored both their goals. Their right wing, #10 Daniel Rios, was also a quite nice looking player.

Dallas Texans

Local side Dallas Texans also began DA play in two age groups U14 and U13. The U14s defeated Houston Dynamo Youth 3-2 while their U13s won 6-0.

Solar SC

Solar SC also started play at the U14 and U13 level against San Antonio FC. Winning the U14s 2-1 and tying the U13s 2-2.