Omar Salgado scored the game-winning goal to help the U.S. Under-20 national team score a 1-0 victory against China in the Milk Cup opener for both teams.
Salgado, who has signed a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer and will be available in the 2011 MLS Draft, scored a first-half goal to give the Americans a victory in its first match in the Northern Ireland-based tournament.
A 16-year-old native of El Paso, Texas, Salgado made headlines when he gave up his place with Mexican club Chivas de Guadalajara in order to pursue a youth national team career with the United States, a decision that went against Guadalajara's policy of playing only players who play for the Mexican national team. A source close to Salgado has confirmed to SBI that Salgado has signed a contract with Major League Soccer and will be available in the 2011 MLS Draft.
Salgado is expected to spend the remainder of the year training with the MLS club of his choosing before heading on loan to an as-yet-undetermined team in the USSF Division 2.
Here are some other stories from Monday:
FIRE DEALS MAPP TO PHILLY
The Chicago Fire has dealt winger Justin Mapp to the Philadelphia Union for allocation money in a move sources tell SBI was made to pave way for the club to sign a second Designated Player.
The Fire recently signed Mexican star Nery Castillo, but league sources have linked Chicago to the addition of a second high-profile player. No names have been strongly linked to the Fire's second Designated Player, though there is a belief that the team could add a second Mexican international.
Mapp joins a Union team that could use his services on the flank, though he arrives in Philadelphia looking to resurrect a career that started brightly, but that has been disappointing in recent years. A nine-year veteran of MLS, Mapp is still just 25.
ZAKUANI NAMED MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Seattle Sounders forward/midfielder Steve Zakuani was named MLS Player of the Week after his two-goal effort in the Sounders' 2-1 victory against the Colorado Rapids.
The award is the first of Zakuani's career and the first for a Seattle player this season.
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What do you think of these developments? Eager to see Salgado play? Who do you see Chicago bringing in as a second Designated Player? Think Justin Mapp can turn his career around in Philadelphia?
Share your thoughts below.
Come train with us, Omar.
Interested in seeing this Salgado kid play, not only is he 16 but he’s already 6-foot-4, reportedly.
What is Zakuani’s nationality? I remember reading before that he is Congolese. Regardless, he has a bright future in the sport and it is a pleasure to watch him play.
I get where you re going with Gio but to compare him to Adu is a little unfair since he did get time @ Barca and I thought he was fantastic in South Africa while Freddy was tweeting from home during the matches…
I would not be so quick to say Gio is not coming… He has had a hard time in Europe every since Barca…He did well in the Colaship but those teams likely can’t buy him… I think MLS as a DP would be a major increase in salary for him..
I say train with Houston or Dallas, and play with the Aztex. Home state and all…
…but I’m not biased.;)
“Keep an eye on him”, as in make him go with a chaperon, have him tailed, wire his hotel room, etc. I guess my joke didn’t work very well.
Some of the comments on here about people’s nationalities are quite odd. Footballers quite often spend a significant amount of their time away from their place of birth.
Will you guys now tell me that Messi is not Argentinian because he has been in Spain most of his life? He just ‘happened’ to be born in Argentina.
Points to some really new football fans if that’s the way you really think.
BBC will be broadcasting the US v Denmark game Wed 28th @ 3pm EST. Should have a feed going online by then.
I agree with you inkedAG, they shouldn’t choose their team, I believe that rule is made to make certain players happy or bringing them back home, im speculating, not really sure.
Isn’t there an MLS Rule against people choosing their own teams. Perhaps for training, it’s a different story?
Omar Bravo —> Chicago.
Guillermo Franco stinks, he´s called “el tronco” in Mexico, that’s because he’s like a pole, he just sits there weaiting for the ball and doesn´t do anyhting to actually play. I hope it´s not Franco.
Totally different topic, Salgado is an example for mexican americans, that kid really loves America and it’s a great addition for our National soccer system.
That guy is pure class. Might be a little on the small side for MLS, but he’s hands down top 3 playmakers in FMF.
I agree, just the timing and all and I don’t see a big club overseas picking him up.
I hear you!!
Agreed. The goal is to get to the best leagues for these players, and by going to Turkey they’ll lose quite a bit of exposure aside from CL.
If MB waits until the dust settles in Germany, there could be some better opportunities there for him possibly.
I also think it is Guillermo Franco. He’s actually a good player, more than people give him credit for. He would complement Castillo well but I don’t think Collins John will be around much longer if Franco is signed.
How are they not Mexican? They both hold Mexican passports?
Listen to this and tell me it doesn’t sound stupid:
Jozy Altidore isn’t really American at all.
Stuart Holden isn’t really American at all.
Onyewu isn’t really American at all.
Let’s see if you can follow the logic…
Zinha, while not Mexican by birth, played for El Tri and would be an excellent pick-up for Chicago.
He’s still got it–in fact, he would’ve been far better than Cuauh or Bofo at the World Cup.