Here's the roster for the US U-20 that Thomas Rongen is taking to Northern Ireland for the Milk Cup. GOALKEEPERS (2): Samir Badr (F.C. Porto; Fairfax, Va.), Zac MacMath (Maryland; St. Petersburg, Fla.) DEFENDERS (7): Gale Agbossoumonde (S.C. Braga; Syracuse, N.Y.), Bryan De La Fuente (Chivas USA; Bell, Calif.), Greg Garza (G.D. Estoril Praia; Grapevine, Texas), Sacir Hot (Boston College; Fair Lawn, N.J.), Perry Kitchen (Akron; Indianapolis, Ind.), Zarek Valentin (Akron; Lancaster, Pa.), Ethan White (Maryland; Kensington, Md.) MIDFIELDERS (6): Fuad Ibrahim (Toronto FC; Richfield, Minn.), Francisco Navas Cobo (Houston Dynamo; Richmond, Texas), Alex Molano (NK Dinamo Zagreb; Grapevine, Texas), Ernest Nungaray (Monarcas Morelia; National City, Calif.), Dillon Powers (Notre Dame; Plano, Texas), Conor Shanosky (D.C. United, Sterling, Va.) FORWARDS (3): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls; Barnegat, N.Y.), Adrian Ruelas (Santos Laguna; Fontana, Calif.), Omar Salgado (Unattached; El Paso, Texas) And the schedule: July 26 - China July 28 - Denmark July 30 - Placement Match This is nice and all, but the bigger story that is attached to this roster is that Rongen is focused his recruitment for the U-20 on identifying Americans all over the world to add to the player pool, rather than just settling for the readily and locally available Americans as he did in the U-20 World Cup last summer. As per the article, a few players to watch from this roster Gale Agbossoumonde, who is with Braga and forward Omar Salgado. Salgado is currently unattached after asking for his release from Chivas de Guadalajara as they did not approve of his US over Mexico decision and it didn't really mesh with their "Mexicans only" policy. The article also mentions Amobi Okugo who plays a key role for the Philly Union and isn't available for this tournament and Alex Zahavi, who has featured for Portugal at the youth level and is expected to formalize his switch to the US soon.
Omar Salgado scored in today's 1-0 win over China. Denmark meanwhile whooped upon Japan and won 4-0. Good luck to us. Salgado also signed a Generation Adidas contract and will be in the 2011 MLS Draft. He'll probably play in the lower levels of US Soccer through the summer.
Here's an article on Porto's Samir Badr. The ambitious 18 year-old is hoping to establish himself as number one for the US U-20 though the World Cup qualification and for the Porto reserve team. Badr's main competition with the U-20 is DC United's Bill Hamid, who is not with the team for the Milk Cup due to his position with DCU. Hamid, who goes 6-3, 225, has four starts and two wins in net. Both are originally from the Washington area and here's an older article on the duo.
USA just defeated Denmark 3-2. Craziness at the end of the match as I tuned in to a stream in the 78th with a 1-1 scoreline, look back around 81 with a 2-1 USA lead, then 2-2 at 83, and finally 3-2 at 85. Missed all the goals, but hear Fuad Ibrahim scored the second for the US and a Perry Kitchen own goal was Denmark's second. Navas Cobo scored the winner.
Looks like I got some wrong info in the previous post. Adrian Ruelas scored the winner for the US in the 87th. Ruelas also scored the first for the US to draw the sides at 1-1 before halftime. Ibrahim scored the second. The US will now take on Northern Ireland in the Elite Group Final on Friday.
I was playing Mario Kart and forgot this was on. I like having Fridays off. Here are some comments from the viewers who are providing commentary on SBI: Starting lineup for the US: ----------MacMath(18)----------- Valentin(2)--Kitchen(6)--Agboss(22)--Garza(5) Molano(7)--Powers(8)--Agudelo(17)--Ibrahim(14) -------Reulas(13)--Salgado(9)-------- McMath is being looked at by Everton, while the Colombian born Agudelo had a trial with Millionarios before signing with New York Red Bulls. Agbossomounde scored the first goal on a free kick that he sent through the wall. A bit of luck on the replay I saw as it appeared that one of the Northern Ireland players ducked out of the way. Agudelo scored the second of the first half to give the US a 2-0 lead. Agudelo went around a couple of defenders after picking up the ball just inside the half way line. He then chipped the ball from outside the 18 and it went over the keeper and in. There was also something about Agudelo scoring a goal that was called back in the first half and the commentators apparently said it should have been in.
Watching the second half now. The US is sitting back and playing for the counter. One thing that stands out is how much bigger this US team is the than the Northern Irish. There are a lot of big dudes out there for the US, including Agbossomounde (6'4"), Agudelo (6'1"), and Salgado (6'4").
Good chances for NI in the 57th. A cross forced a save and McMath was out of position, forcing Garza to clear the ball off the line. Agbossomounde ended up backing another forward out of position and clearing it. First chances I've seen the NI have. Not sure they're going to get too many more.
It just occurred to me that Juan Agudelo is listed as a forward for NYRB and has always played up front. He's currently playing in central midfield and doing well. Haven't seen much from him defensively, but he's passing and retaining possession well, in addition to the explosive run he had for the second goal and a couple others I have seen. I haven't seen him before, but he looks like a serious player. Hanging out with Henry should help him too. 68 - Valentin takes a run down the left side and looks up to find a target near the end line. Adrian Ruelas was floating around the top of the 18 and cut to get the low cross. Finished well to make it 3-0. Omar Salgado has been subbed out for Navas Cobo. I was hoping to see something from Salgado, but he didn't really get much of the ball and was doing a good amount of defending in midfield. Random note here, there's a security guard using those inflatable sticks to clap along with the fans.
It appears that Perry Kitchen is playing with a cast on his left arm. Not sure where that came from or why he's still in there with those score line, but it just popped out at me. 77 - McMath takes the ball off a free kick and an NI defender kicks out at his legs as he's running off. Scuffle ensues and Agbossoumonde ends up putting not one, but two NI players in momentary choke holds. Double reds. Not the sort of thing I'd like to see from a player that I'm hoping that work his way into the rotation for 2014.
Sacir Hot is coming in for the last few minutes and stoppage time. Hot seems to be a favorite of the commentators. 87 - It should have been four. Navas Cobo dispossessed a defender and sent a shot in from just inside the 18. Keeper made a diving save, but the rebound went to Cobo and he had a mostly open goal, but he sent it very high and very wide. 90+2 - NI gets another chance on a cross to a forward. McMath makes the save as the header went right at him. Match is over. USA was bigger, stronger, faster, and more skilled than the opposition today and a 3-0 scoreline was deserved. Only area that was lacking was defense in the midfield, which isn't too much of a worry as Bradley and Edu will still be around through the start of the USMNT career of these guys. The fullbacks were involved in the attack and the central defense controlled the match comfortably. Most importantly, there were skilled forwards on this team that were finishing goals. Juan Agudelo may not feature much for NYRB this year, but I'd love to see him popping up in MLS over the next couple of years. He won't be around long once he starts playing with his size, speed, and skills. Agudelo won tournament MVP. Agbossomounde was serving as captain this tournament until he was sent off. Dillon Powers lifted the cup on behalf of the United States.
