The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team’s first match of the Nike International Friendlies ended in defeat.
Following the U-17 World Cup, the U.S. is beginning a new cycle with the U-17 team, and that new group fell to England, 1-0, in a back-and-forth match in the first match of the Nike International Friendlies. The game’s lone goal came when England’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed in a corner from Benjamin Knight in the 79th minute of the 80-minute match.
Goalkeeper Damien Las, a product of the Chicago Fire academy, was the big star for the U.S. in the match, as he made seven saves throughout the defeat.
The U.S. now looks ahead to the second match of the competition, when they take on the Netherlands, who fell, 2-1, to Brazil, on Friday.
Check out highlights of the match below:
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The keeper played 1-2 levels above the field players. He is a leader type, skilled, and fearless. The team played a disjointed game. Individually most of the players had a great deal more problem with their first touch than the English side. Lots of give-aways. Not a hopeful beginning. Add to this, US teams tend to fall behind in their age-group ind skills development as time goes on. As I said, this team is already behind at least of England. Review the player selection process and pick some better candidates. This group cannot be the best 15 year olds we have now.
The youngest player on the US team, came in as a second half sub, for my money, was the best of the field players.
Good,just 1-0,in a very close game, congratulation to the new goolkeaper whit his seven
saves,the academy continue making better prospects than before