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U-17 USMNT draw with Scotland, will face Turkey in Aegean Cup final

U.S. U17 MNT vs England

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By DAN KARELL

Even though there wasn’t much on the line, the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team still earned a positive result in their final group stage match.

A second-half goal by Joe Gallardo was enough for the U-17s on Thursday as they drew 1-1 with Scotland. Though the U.S. had already qualified for the championship match by virtue of their two wins against France and Norway, the U.S. learned that they would be facing hosts Turkey in the final.

The U.S created chances throughout but their only goal came six minutes into the second half (the game was played with two 40-minute halves). A long ball sent forward was well controlled off Gallardo’s chest, running at the Scotland goal before chipping the goalkeeper to put the U.S. in the lead. It was Gallardo’s second goal of the tournament, tying him with teammate Christian Pulisic for the tournament lead.

Scotland equalized in the 78th minute when a failed clearance was sent back into the box towards the far post. Ross McCrorie met the ball before U.S. goalkeeper Carlos Avilez, though the ensuing collision injured both players in the process.

The draw gave the U.S. U-17s seven points from three matches, good for the top spot in Group B.

Here are the highlights from the game:

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What do you think of this result? Excited about the U.S. U-17s performances? Do you see them going on to win the title?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. On the replay it looks to me like it was an own goal. Watch very closely and you’ll see the ball bounces off the US keeper and then back off the defender’s outer thigh. The Scottish player may never have touched the ball.

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  2. So, the obvious question with each time a YNT side makes a final is how poor a preparation college is for our players and what can be done to close the gap that opens between seventeen and twenty three. What I wonder, though, is how accurate the premise is in the first place. Can any of you direct me to an all-time record for our teams by age division? I haven’t been able to find one.

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    • MLS sides fielding full USL pro teams full of 16-23 yo players would do a lot to address that problem. if we had a Third tier pro league that condensed the elite talent of the u18-u23 age group players playing 30-40 games a year instead of spreading them out over 200+ div I schools I think we see a huge improvement in our ability to produce pro players.

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    • So is it an obvious question that as our YNT don’t do well in tournaments (which may be the case next year as was the case two years ago) that the collegiate system is our only hope and how do we improve the men’s collegiate soccer programs in the US?

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    • Eh. Mexico and Nigeria smoke all the youth competitions and their national teams are no better than hours. Yes, I realize that much of Nigeria’s youth success comes from overaged players.

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  3. Little #10 and #8 look pretty sharp on the ball. Definitely hope to see those skills spread in the YNTs and make their way to the top level some day.

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