Chicago Fire Homegrown Player Victor Pineda scored in the first half for the United States Under-18 national team, but the Netherlands pulled even in the second half, and the two sides played to a 1-1 draw in the opening game of the Lisbon International Tournament in Portugal on Wednesday.
Real Salt Lake midfielder Luis Gil, who captained the U.S. side, initiated a counterattack, and reigning Gatorade National High School Player of the Year Luis Rendon found Pineda, who put the United States ahead in the 37th minute. The Netherlands equalized in the 52nd minute on a goal by Cas Peters.
The U.S. U-18s will play host Portugal on Thursday followed by facing Finland on Saturday. Here's the lineup U.S. coach Mike Matkovich trotted out on Wednesday:
Jon Kempin, Bryan Gallego, Juan Ocegueda, Boyd Okwuonu, Walker Zimmerman, William Packwood (Villyan Bijev 87), Luis Gil, Victor Pineda (Daniel Metzger 72), Alex Shinsky (Michael Ambrose 35), Luis Rendon (Will Trapp 62), Jack Coleman (Jonathan Top 62).