It won't make up for Mexico's recent continental dominance, but it's something.
The U.S. Under-17 men's national team topped Mexico 1-0 in the fifth-place game of the Mondial Minimes Tournament in France Monday, getting a goal from New York Red Bulls academy forward Wesley Wade to cap off the competition with a victory.
Wade and Chivas USA academy forward Bradford Jamieson led Richie Williams' squad with two goals apiece, as the U.S. U-17s finished 2-1-1 in the tournament. They beat the United Arab Emirates 4-0, lost to Portugal 1-0 and advanced past Japan on penalties 4-3 after a 1-1 draw to reach Monday's match against El Tri.
Portugal topped Russia in penalties after a scoreless draw to take home first place, while England defeated host France 1-0 for third.
Here are a few more stories to get your Tuesday going:
NEWCASTLE ON SPURS', GUNNERS' HEELS
The team that has refused to go away is now very much in the mix for a UEFA Champions League berth.
Newcastle has drawn level with Tottenham on points in the Premier League table and is only out of a UCL spot on goal differential after Monday's 2-0 victory over Bolton and Tottenham's 2-1 loss to Norwich City.
Led by Hatem Ben Arfa's 60-yard run and score, and Papiss Cisse's latest goal, the Magpies won their fifth straight match to not only keep the heat on Tottenham but also apply pressure to Arsenal, who leads both sides by just two points for third place. The Gunners, who own a game in hand on both teams, can extend that lead back to five with a win over Wolves on Wednesday. Tottenham, meanwhile, continues to be in a funk, dropping points in seven of their last eight Premier League matches after defeating Newcastle 5-0 in February.
Newcastle has matches with Stoke City, Wigan Athletic, Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton remaining this season, with the Wigan, Chelsea and Everton matches taking place away from home.
FULHAM'S RUIZ OUT FOR SEASON
Costa Rica international and Fulham striker Bryan Ruiz has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken foot.
Ruiz, who suffered the injury over the weekend against Bolton, will be out "until June or July" according to Fulham manager Martin Jol. The injury not only prevents him from suiting up for the Cottagers, but it could also be a bit of a blow to Costa Rica, as Los Ticos face El Salvador and Guyana in their opening CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers on June 8 and 12.
CLASICO DATE CHANGED
Barcelona and Madrid's La Liga showdown in a couple of weeks has been pushed back a day in order to give the clubs an extra day of rest prior to the second legs of their respective UEFA Champions League semifinals.
Originally slated for April 22, the Clasico at Camp Nou that could very well decide the Spanish title race will now be played on April 21. While that means less rest ahead of the Clasico after the first legs, the switch gives Barcelona three days ahead of their second leg against Chelsea instead of two, and Real Madrid four days ahead of their second leg against Bayern Munich instead of three.
Real Madrid held a 10-point lead in the league table over Barcelona at one point, but that deficit is in danger of being cut to one, at least momentarily, as Barcelona hosts Getafe today and will have played one more game than their rivals until tomorrow, when Real Madrid goes up against rival Atletico Madrid at Estadio Vicente Calderon.
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How do you feel about the U-17s' showing in the tournament? Happy to see them take down Mexico? Can you see Newcastle making it to the Champions League? Do you think Costa Rica could slip up in qualifying without Ruiz? Think the Clasico rescheduling makes sense?
Share your thoughts below.
In the qualifiers, Porter made some bad selections on defense and the goal-tending was the worst ever. However pay attention to what Klinsmann hinted at in postmortem. To paraphrase, did Porter’s assistants make the right decisions? When Porter didn’t need much help, his side demolished El Tri. When he needed experienced hands for tournament decisions on subs, medical decisions, time management, and gamesmanship, the USA fell far short. To be blunt, I think Claudio, the medical team, and the GK coach were disappointments.
Belgium or Holland or France first. Until then, save your keystrokes.
it’s like we’re goldfish.
…didn’t we just finish the hype cycle?
I’m glad we’re winning and have young talent, but can they transfer over to the upper divisions? that’s when I’ll get up and shout.
For me Mexico has the best youth sides in the region. It is impressive that the USA beat both Mexico’s 17’s and 23’s in their last two encounters. I feel Mexico is the bench-mark for the region. When you beat the best, that is a major accomplishment.
unfortunately for us, the U23’s also lost to Canada 2-0 and tied El Salvador 3-3. While it’s always nice to beat Mexico, let’s not make this out more then it really is. Good results for our U17s. Let’s hope it continues
Hey Ryan – did it occur to you that perhaps they added that sentence after my suggestion, cause that’s how it went down.
The USA 17s and 23s both beat Mexico, who many rightfully claim have the best youth teams in the region. Things are turning around.
These kids go to school together in Bradenton at the Academy there. They play half the day or more and have school three hours a day. The Academy structures everything around soccer, so the schooling doesn’t get the short end of the stick; rather, it just gets pushed into periods when they are not traveling for a tournament.
By the way, BJ is a beast. He was always more athletic and bigger/faster than other kids his age, but now he is really blossoming with skill development.
Does this Wesley Wade kid have any relation to the indoor soccer player of yesteryear Wes Wade?
I hope that for most of the U17s this is spring break; here in Alabama and a few other southern states that was two weeks ago. Skipping school time as juniors does not strike me as something USSF should be encouraging. Or do they take tutors with them?
Eight teams last season:
Champions League: Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Man United
Europa: Birmingham, Fulham, Stoke, Tottenham
Actually England gets eight berths in European competition. Top four in BPL table qualify for Champions League; one Europa berth goes to the team placing fifth; two Europa berths are for domestic cup (FA and Carling) winners; and an additional Europa berth is given for Fair Play. If a Champion’s League qualifying team wins a cup as well, the highest team on the table that hasn’t already qualified otherwise for Champions League or Europa fills that berth.
I doubt Shea or Zusi could crack the starting 11 of any BPL team right now. Shea needs at least another year before he should even think about going to Europe and Zusi seemed to struggle with the faster pace during camp cupcake
BPL? Fuhgeddaboutit. Shea would be lucky to make the bench at Scunthorpe.
Probably worth noting that it was mentioned in the article.
Glad someone asked this question. I have scoured the Web trying to find out to see what Everton’s/Fulham’s chances are, but come up with nothing. The Bundesliga this year goes seven deep, with the first three times autmoatic Champions League spots and the fourth-placed team in the CL playoffs at the beginning of the season. Then the 5th, 6th and 7th-placed teams are in the Europa League. I wouuld think the Premiere League would go at least as Germany. Can someone (SBI?) enlighten on the Premiere League situation?
What would be the best BPL team for Brek Shea? Graham Zusi?
Which side would they fit in best?
This new crop of U-17’s seem to have some real talent. They have won the nike Tournament, finished third in a Spanish tournament and now finished 5th in the Mondial Minimes tournament. Hopefully they can do some damage at the U-17 CONCACAF tournament, and then on to the U-17 WC next year.
I thought 6 as well but IIRC last season saw 5 English teams qualify for Europe. I was surprised the number 6 finisher didn’t qualify – can’t remember who it was at the moment.
Newcastle’s run of form is pretty impressive and the further irony to me is that the recent uptick has seen Cisse (10 goals I believe all since the winter window) bump Ba aside, when Ba is 4th best in goals for the EPL season with 16, ahead of Dempsey for whom Fulham will probably build a statue, hopefully from the melted down remnants of the Michael Jackson abomination at the Cottage.
That being said, it’s going to be interesting who makes Europe and at what level among Spurs, the Geordies, and CFC. Spurs had practically won Harry the England job at Xmas and now they might miss Europe. CFC seems to have turned around under DiMatteo.
Speaking of which, anyone know whether England goes 5 or 6 deep this year in Europe? What I’m looking at suggests 5 teams qualify but I thought recent years had seen 6?
Wade is gonna be a player for us down the road.
Happy for the kids, I hope Klismann keep an eye on all these Young kids that are on the U23 all the way to the U17. Glad that Williams doing a great job and taking over where Wilmer left off.
To be fair chelse has arsenal and munich has bremen on the 21st as well so all 4 teams havee important games 4 days before the champions league match. Possibly atvantage to bayern
Probably worth noting that Tottenham and Newcastle have played one more game than Arsenal who play Wolves tomorrow.