Famous football names, people on the grandstands and drama until the end of most matches – epitaphs for this weekend’s Ateitis CUP U-12 Tournament that triumphed over the young footballers of England’s Manchester City Football Academy. They defeated Kyiv Dynamo peers in the final 1-0.
“It was a great weekend. In fact, we enjoyed football and the atmosphere here, ” said the coach of winners. The team will leave for England only on Monday, so they will have some time to discover the city of Vilnius.
Both teams – Manchester City and Kyiv Dynamo had a slow start but they made some improvements and they went till final. For both teams, the semi-finals were extremely challenging (and very exciting). Man City defeated Bergamo’s Atalanta, the favourite and then third, in a 1-0 win over Man City, while Dynamo Kyiv defeated Dynamo Tbilisi in a 2-1 win despite a missed first goal.
For the first time, the Lithuanian regional team participated in the tournament and remained ninth. The young Lithuanians, who started with Atalanta Bergamo defeat, later won five consecutive victories in the tournament. In the final duel of the tournament, the team led by Šarūnas Terleckas from the fifth minute defeated the Panevėžys Academy. Panevėžys team stayed in tenth place.
“Although I am subjective, I think we have created another great feast. It was one of the most exciting tournaments in our experience of all ten years. I really want to believe that the remaining six tournaments of this autumn cycle will not fall behind what we had this weekend, ”said Dainius Gudaitis, the main organizer of the tournament.
Thirteen-year-olds will compete next weekend for the Main Cup of the Ateitis CUP 2019 Autumn U-13.
On Friday, the second weekend of the tenth anniversary of the AteitisCUP Tournament will kick off in the Lithuanian capital, with twelve-year-olds from Manchester City, Bergamo’s Atalanta, Tbilisi’s Dinamo and other super academies from all Europe.
“Last week we raised the cart high enough so there is no doubt that we want to keep it at the same level. I think this weekend will not be much different from last weekend, only now matches will be played not 9×9 but 11×11, ” said the main organizer of tournament Dainius Gudaitis.
For the first time in history based United Lithuanian U-12 team will participate in Ateitis CUP tournament.
“In the older groups we will have regional teams and the 12-year-olds have decided to play for the Lithuanian national team. No doubt, it will be interesting to watch them and for them it will be a great test of what they are worth,” – said D.Gudaitis.
According to the tournament format, 32 teams will be divided into eight groups. The teams which will win first places at their groups will fight for the main cup. The tournament will take place at the Sportima indoor stadium, LFF Stadium, FANAI Stadium and Širvintos Stadium from Friday till Sunday.
The winners of the tournament will be revealed at 13:10 on Sunday at Sportima arena.
In an impressive start of the tenth-anniversary tournament Ateitis Cup, the eleven-year-old final was won by Tbilisi Dynamo team’s young footballers. In the final after a dramatic 1-0 defeat, they broke Vilnius ‘Žalgirietis’ peers.
Graduates of Dainius Greviškis were not the only representatives of Lithuania who managed to break into the strongest four of the tournament. It also featured Gargždai “Banga”, who lost to Dortmund Borussia in the minor final and won fourth place.
Over a decade of history, Lithuanian representatives have never achieved such an achievement in a tournament where Borussia, Manchester City, Birmingham City, Antalyaspor, Kyiv Dynamo and other famous clubs have competed.
“I always say our tournament is a perfect indicator. If two teams performed so well in the 2008 tournament, there is hope that we will have a good future. Overall, we had one of the strongest tournaments in history. Of course, we will continue to try to keep the cart high, ” said. Dainius Gudaitis, the founder of Ateitis CUP tournament.
Tbilisi Dinamo U11 team showed the most mature football in the tournament. The Sakartvelo’s team lost none of their goals throughout the tournament and beat Dortmund’s Borussia peers 1-0 in the semifinals.
“Of course, we always focus on the strongest, but I want to point out that those strongest could have been others. I don’t remember such a smooth tournament, to be honest. We calculated that in 78 games played, as many as 78 ended in a draw or one team win by one goal difference. I think it’s unique enough in children’s football, ” said D. Gudaitis.
Antalyaspor finished sixth in the final standings, Birmingham City (losing three series of penalties) – eighth and Manchester City – ninth.
Twelve-year-olds will compete next weekend for the main Cup of the Ateitis CUP. The most famous names in the tournament will be included with Manchester City, Bergamo Atalanta, Borisov BATE and Tbilisi Dinamo Club Academies. In addition, the Lithuanian national team will compete in the tournament, too.
32 teams competed with ages from 6, 7 and 8 years old for the final spring session of Ateitis CUP. In the oldest age group bracket AC “Milan” were victorious, 7 year olds by Vilniaus “Ketera” and the youngest 6 year olds by Kaliningrad “Championika”.
U-8 were dominated by AC “Milan” who scored 62 goals and only conceded 5, winning the final with a sure result of 4:1 against Minsk “Dinamo”.
The third spot went to Vilniaus “Ateitis” who beats “Granitas” with a confident 3:0. In 7 games that they played, the only defeat was to AC “Milan”.
Best players: Acmile Cremonesi (AC “Milan”), Michail Orehvo (“Dinamo”), Nikita Zubanov (“Ateitis”), Steponas Steikūnas (“Granitas”).
U-7 final was between 2 of Vilniaus teams “Ateitis” and “Ketera”. Even though “Ateitis” took an early goal lead, “Ketera” pulled backed and won 4:1.
Best players: Gediminas Mikelevičius (“Ketera”), Timotiejus Kasteckas (“Ateitis”), Domas Stačkūnas (“Šiauliai”), Gediminas Ratner (“Audra”).
The youngest boys played in a wheel format with 6 teams to decide the winner. The guest team from Russia Kaliningrad “Championika” became the champions with a close second from “Audra” and third “Ketera”.
One of the all time biggest “Ateitis CUP” tournaments, filled with many great academies, ended with lots of upsets. In 3 days almost 200 matches were played, with Ukraine’s “Karpaty” winning the U15 group, Latvia’s “RFS” in the U11 and Wale’s “Cardiff city” in the U9 side.
In the oldest group, academy teams like “Twente”, “Lugano” and already mentioned “Karpaty”, participated for the first time. Lithuania was represented by “NFA” and “Ateitis”.
The final was between the 2 group winners, Borisov BATE and “Karpaty”. The Ukrainians were slightly ahead and won 2-0. “NFA” ended fifth, and “Ateitis” 9th.
32 teams participated in the U-11 age group. The first big sensation – “Birmingham City” placing outside of top 8. The best performing Lithuanian team was TFA, who placed sixth.
The final was is not what you would have expected to be. Juventus were dominated against by RFS, taking a two goal lead. The Italian retook the second half but were unable to even out the result.
And in the junior group, “Cardiff City” were the leading team, winning all six of their games, including a 4-1 win in the final against Minsk “Smena”.
A big surprise was Italy’s AC “Milan” not reaching the final, losing out to “Smena”. The Italians redeemed themselves by claiming bronze silverware.
Three days of football for three different age groups, however only so many can emerge victorious. In the U10 was taken by Turino “Juventus”, U12 by “Tukums” from Latvia and the U17 Lithuanian representatives “Žalgiris” .
First the youngest group. The final between Turino “Juventus” and Lithuanian champions Kauno “Tauras” was an enthralling game to the very end. A strong performance from the young Italians guaranteed a dominating result of 6:0.
The Latvian champions “Tukums” showed their true power and ruled over the U12 age group. A 5:1 final against Moscow “Deviatka” was the most competition the team faced.
The elder group was played in a wheel system, where all teams played each other to see who would stand above all. Vilniaus “Žalgiris” had achieved this task by getting a draw with Minsk SDJUSSHOR “Dinamo”, which was enough for them to win.
This weekend will be played by kids born at 2004, 2008 and 2010.
A confident final finish for “Atalanta” of 5-1, against Moscow “Dynamo”, almost did not happen because of a shaky quarter-final start against Brest “Dynamo”, where they only won after a penalty shootout.
3 different Italian teams participated of which 2 won silverware. One of the semi-finals needed 34 penalty shoots taken before a victor was clear.
The longest penalty shootout in “Ateitis CUP” history was between Moscow “Dynamo” and Lithuanian academy “NFA”, in which the Russians walked away with the winners spoils.
The final was a clear cut game – “Dynamo” were not on par with the Italians. From the very start “Atalanta” dominated the game and ended with a crushing 5-1.
Final standings:
- Bergamo “Atalanta” (Italy)
- “Dynamo” Moscow (Rusija)
- “Accademia Calcio Como” (Italy )
- NFA (Lithuania)
- “Dynamo” Brest (Belarus)
- BFC “Daugavpils” (Latvia)
- FK “Minsk” (Belarus)
- KuPS (Finland)
…
- FM “Vilnius” (Lithuania)
- TFA (Lithuania)
This isn’t the first time that “Atalanta” U-13 team wins the cup, however this was “Ilves” first time in the tournament and going as far as the final is an achievement in it’s own right.
“We’re glad we decided to compete in this tournament. The hotel, food, pitches and the tournament itself were all perfect. Since Vilnius isn’t far for us, this wasn’t the last time we’ll be participating in the tournament” ; – “Ilves” coach speaking before the final.
The battle for bronze was decided in a penalty shootout, where Saint Petersburg “Zenit” were superior to the Swedish “Hammarby” youngsters.
A great performance in the shootout helped Archip Laks stand out and be chosen as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. “Hammarby” striker Jacob Heling – top scorer and the best defender and striker went to “Atalanta” Anzoni Jules and Federicp Simonetto
Out of the 24 teams, the best performing Lithuanians were Vilniaus “TFA”, who placed sixth. “BFA” – 11th, “Ateitis” – 14th and “Žalgirietis” – 16th.
The tournament cycle will continue from the final week of February. 24 teams competing in the U-14 age group. 3 teams from Italy and another 3 from Finland will make for another memorable weekend.
The biggest Baltic based children football tournament “Ateitis CUP” begins it’s 2019 season this Friday. The first ones to compete will be the U-13 group.
For 8 weekends in a row, the biggest Baltic countries children football tournament “Ateitis CUP”, held its final tournament of the year. The final weekend held the U7 tournament with Rotterdam’s “Feyenoord” became the grand champions and U9 where “Dinamo” Kiev were triumphant. In 3 days 53 teams played a total of 168 matches.
“It’s a tradition to have the biggest tournament to be held last. Since the players are still young, most are accommodated by their parents and get a lot support, making a tournament a blast for everyone”, – Dainius Gudaitis said.
“Dinamo” won the final 4:0 against “Lugano” from Switzerland. While the score may seem one sided, the game could have gone either way.
“The score does not represent the capabilities of the teams. The beauty of the game is that anyone can win. On the other hand, the true final happened in the semi-final”,- “Dinamo” Kiev academy coach.
“Dinamo” only won the semi-finals against Bergamo “Atalanta” on penalties. The match was intense from start to finish, ending regular time on a score of 2:2.
The U7 final also ended with a 4:0 win of “Feyenoord” against Riga’s FS.
“Probably one of the top academies in the world and one of the best teams of their age. Hopefully we’ll get to see them more often in the tournament”,- coaches from other teams talking about “Feyenoord”. The team also has Aidan Kuyt, the son of former Dutch national team player, Dirk Kuyt.
