By FRANCO PANIZO
It took a come-from-behind effort, but the Under-20 U.S. Men’s National Team is off to a winning start in California.
The U.S. defeated Chile in their first 2014 National Training Center Invitational match on Monday, using a pair of second-half goals from a couple of substitutes in a 2-1 victory. Andrija Novakovich started the comeback with a strike in the 65th minute off a free kick from Zach Pfeffer, who put the Americans ahead eight minutes later with a goal of his own.
Tab Ramos’ side went down 22 minutes into the match in Carson, Calif. when Cristian Cuevas found the back of the net, but Novakovich and Pfeffer both helped to erase the deficit and push the U.S. out in front after entering the match together in the 63rd minute.
The Americans will continue to partake in the NTC Invitational on Wednesday with a match against Bermuda, who suffered a 4-1 loss to Australia in their opener on Monday.
Here is the U.S. lineup that played against Chile:
Santiago Castano; John Requejo Jr., Michael Amick, Conor Donovan, Shaquell Moore; Romain Gall (Zach Pfeffer, 63), Russell Canouse, Fernando Arce, Paul Arriola (capt.) (Marco Delgado, 74); Lynden Gooch (Jacori Hayes, 83), Benji Lopez (Andrija Novakovich, 63)
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What do you think of the U-20 USMNT beating Chile, 2-1? Think the Americans will cruise past Bermuda? Which prospect on this U.S. squad are you most intrigued by?
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