Photo by Michael Janosz ISIphotos.com
The U.S. Under-20 men's national team's trip to Northern Ireland started off with a stumble, but the Americans recovered nicely Monday to save some face at the Milk Cup.
The U-20s followed up Saturday's 1-0 loss to Denmark with a 1-0 victory over Turkey on Monday in their second match of the tournament. Chicago Fire Homegrown Player Victor Pineda scored off a cross from Daniel Cuevas (Santos Laguna) in the 73rd minute to account for the game-winning tally, one that puts the U-20s in fourth position and in Thursday's third-place match, where they will face Chile while going for their second straight third-place finish after winning the title in 2010.
Denmark, the 2011 champion, beat Chile 2-1 Monday to advance to the final against Mexico, who followed a 5-0 thrashing of Turkey with a 0-0 draw with Northern Ireland.
Cody Cropper, a free agent who recently trialed with Premier League side Southampton, captained the squad Saturday and and played 90 minutes in goal before giving way to San Jose Earthquakes Academy goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh on Monday.
Lineups from both matches are after the jump:
U.S. U-20s LINEUP VS. DENMARK (1-0 Denmark)
Cody Cropper (capt.); Boyd Okwuonu, Walker Zimmerman, Eric Miller, Dillon Serna; Benji Joya, Dan Metzger (Wil Trapp, 64), Collin Martin; Victor Pineda (Mario Rodriguez, 71), Alfred Koroma, Daniel Cuevas
U.S. U-20s STARTERS VS. TURKEY (1-0 USA)
Kendall McIntosh; Juan Pablo Ocegueda, Walker Zimmerman, Eric Miller, Boyd Okwuonu; Collin Martin, Wil Trapp, Benji Joya; Victor Pineda, Mario Rodriguez, Alfred Koroma