Neymar Jr’s Five Tournament Held at Waterfront Park
The San Diego edition of Neymar Jr’s Five Tournament hosted by Red Bull took place over the weekend as players traveled to compete in a chance to head to the U.S. Nationals event in Miami. Dream Killers closed out the weekend as champions in the team’s second run at a trip to Nationals after making it to the semifinals in Los Angeles.
Soccer News: Local and traveling soccer players gathered over the weekend at Waterfront Park in San Diego for the latest edition of Neymar Jr.’s Five Tournament hosted by Red Bull.
Teams battled it out for a chance to win a trip to the U.S. Nationals event held in Miami with the World Finals taking place in Brazil. The winners of the competition will also get a chance to meet with Neymar in Barcelona as well as attend a match at the infamous Camp Nou.
Red Bull set the atmosphere and the players brought the skills as teams from all different soccer backgrounds gathered on a cloudy day in America’s Finest City. A pair of fields were set up just a street away from the San Diego Bay with downtown and the airport in clear sight.
The final featured Dream Killers from Los Angeles and local side SDSJ as both teams came out of the day winning a trip to the second round of the competition.
Dream Killers also made a run in Los Angeles but fell short in the semifinals after losing to eventual champions Bola who were also present at the tournament in San Diego.
SISM Street Soccer, a local street team from San Diego, won its first three matches of the tournament but were unable to get past the soon-to-be crowned champions in the quarterfinals.
Team captain Ali Aizubaidy describes the street scene in San Diego as faint with in need of a voice to promote events such as Neymar’s Five. His crew dedicates its times to spreading the game to local communities by hosting events for El Cajon High School and youth club Barca Cantera in order to help build the non-traditional style of football.
NC Battalion defender Michael Harrow was also in attendance at the tournament as the National Premier Soccer League player took a step back from the outdoor scene.
“The concept of the event is pretty cool,” states Harrow. “Its refreshing compared to NC Battalion where you always have to be on your A game.”
NC Battalion gear up for the second leg of the newly acclaimed San Diego Derby this weekend as Albion SC Pros host the Battalion this Saturday at Mission Bay High School in Pacific Beach.
SDSJ who will be heading to Miami for the U.S. Nationals event consisted of recent alumni and current San Diego State University students.
Ricardo Holguin claims to have experience playing short-side soccer at the school gym, which also hosts intramural leagues throughout the semester. Teammate Alexis Guadalupe currently plays for the SDSU Club Team who were crowned U.S. National Showcase Champions for the second consecutive year this spring.
Dream Killers headed home as champions of the event with the team making it well worth their while to see if they had what it took to make it to Nationals.
“We thought it would be cool to check out the competition in San Diego and see if we had another chance to go to Miami,” said Israel “Izzy” Murguia.
The Los Angeles squad led the way defeating SISM Street Soccer and a strong OC side who also traveled to San Diego seeking glory. Dream Killers along with SDSJ will represent as the San Diego regional winners with the teams now set to prep for the best the United States has to off in Miami.
Photo Credit: Chris Rael
