Second-half comeback keys Real So Cal win

Local soccer club Real So Cal Blue rallied from a two-goal halftime deficit in its opening pool-play match Wednesday in the boys' 16-under division at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Little Rock, Ark., to knock off Javanon Soccer Club of Kentucky 4-2 at Burns Park Soccer Complex.

Birmingham of Lake Balboa's Manny Cazares had a goal and two assists and fellow Patriots standout Alberto Rosas -- who competed on Valley United Blast's 14-under national championshp team in 2006 -- scored the tying goal off Cazares' corner kick for Real So Cal, which wore down the nation's No. 3-ranked team, according to www.nationalsoccerranking.com.

"You lose your first game in pool play here and you're pretty much done," said Real So Cal coach Travis Kikugawa, the head of the boys' and girls' soccer programs at Viewpoint of Calabasas. "But I guess that's why the game is 80 minutes for a reason. What a way to respond. I'm super, super proud of these guys."

Victor Chavez, who plays at AB Miller of Fontana, scored twice for Real So Cal, which plays Dallas Texans Red -- ranked No. 30 nationally -- today in its pool-play crossover match. Dallas and North Carolina's Triangle United Gold, the nation's top-ranked team, were victorious Wednesday.

Real So Cal will be looking for revenge against the Texas squad after suffering a 5-0 loss at the Dallas Cup in April.

To keep track of the progress of Real So Cal Blue and Valley United Blast Red's 15-under team this week in Arkansas, go to the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships Web site for scores and updates.