Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team relied on their offensive firepower to get off to a good start on their three-game slate in Chile.
In the opening match of the Copa Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins tournament, the U.S. U-17s drew with Chile U-17s, 2-2. Christian Pulisic scored his 13th goal this season for the USA and Pierre Da Silva scored a late goal that nearly gave the U.S. victory.
According to reports in Chile, 3,500 people watched the game from the Estadio Nelson Oyarzún in Chillan. Chile went up in the 35th minute through Diego Gutierrez but Pulisic tied the match in the 61st minute. Da Silva put the USA ahead in the 81st minute, but Chile managed to tie the match in the 85th minute through Rodrigo Aburto.
The U.S. U-17s next play Brazil on Thursday in Talca.
Here’s a look at the U.S. U-17s lineup:
USA: 1-Kevin Silva; 3-John Nelson, 5-Hugo Arellano, 4-Alexis Velela, 2-Tyler Adams; 6-Eric Calvillo (capt.), 8-Alejandro Zendejas, 10-Christian Pulisic; 11-Josh Perez (18-Pierre Da Silva, 72), 9-Kai Koreniuk (17-McKinze Gaines, 62), 7-Haji Wright
Subs not used:12-William Pulisic, 13-Logan Panchot, 14-Danny Barbir, 15-Tanner Dieterich, 16-Tommy McCabe , 19-George Braima, 20-Keegan Kelly
Head Coach: Richie Williams
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What do you think of this result? Happy to hear that Pulisic scored again?
Share your thoughts below.
Love Pulisic. Just hope his physical development will allow him to become a great professional. It’s kind of my opposite worry with Haji Wright. Whereas I’m concerned Haji is making the most of his impressive physical attributes against an age group still firmly in the physical development stage but won’t have the technique to cut it once he gets older, I’m concerned Pulisic’s technique and vision get crowded out by his slight stature once he starts to move up the ranks. Granted, I’m sure Dortmund and Schalke are both very aware of this and have plans in place for these scenarios. But I’m a United States soccer fan and I’m too used to the next big thing letting me down.
I don’t usually nitpick, but I had to read this sentence and the final score 3 times to understand:
“Christian Pulisic scored his 13th goal this season for the USA and Pierre Da Silva scored a late goal that nearly gave the U.S. victory.”
“nearly gave the US victory”? What? You mean Da Silva scored to put the USA ahead before Chile scored the equalizer…. Come on, Dan.
i dont usually nitpick but i see nothing wrong with what he said
Personally I like to nitpick and yeah what Shawn said…
A goal in the closing minutes. Was Klinnsman in charge or is this part of his program wide changes?
You are joking, right? It was a good result by our U17 team against a host nation in South America. Such games are not easy and Chile has a talented team.
I guess these comments offend the JK fan club but I was thinking the same thing when I read this. Remember JK is also USSF technical director and so if there is actually a problem with our teams closing out games, that’s something he needs to address. I’m not sure we’re at that point yet but conceding late goals is certainly not a habit we want catching on.
Also I agree that a draw away from home against Chile is a good result.
Does anybody else pause when they see “technical director” in reference to JK…in stark contrast to the Sr team which has dominated possesion for a total of about 10 minutes in any game staring with the WC (yes, OT v Belgium), this U17 team plays every game competitively against the top teams in the world, with attacking and creative and organized soccer. I haven’t seen any such quality playing or coaching at Sr level but am sure that some of JK’s loyalists who loved him as a player will disagree. I just hope that we mature as a soccer country and start being honest about the vast divide between his playing and coaching abilities and results. The German public (and players) clearly see it and I believe the US will as well. Hopefully sooner than later….
Exactly what did you genuinely expect to happen when JK took over the senior team? Barcelona? Bayern Munich? 1970 Brazil?
It’s been three years, not a generation. We still send $30 million sides out to face $200+ million sides when we face the elite. That is what our players are worth. Period. For now.
Yes, it’s true that JK has basically built an oragami goose where Bob Bradley built an oragami duck. Maybe if we hired some tactical genius he could build us an oragami swan. How nice for us. It still won’t snatch the World Cup somehow from an actual T-Rex like Germany, Not yet. Not soon.
But you do see the progress at the youth levels, and that is what matters most in the big picture. In many ways, the Olympics are as big a part of 2016 as the Copa America.
Patience!
Juan, you are making a good observation. But keep in mind that our first team faces more experienced and higher quality opponents, who are generally better organized and press harder than youth teams, so it is harder to execute. The second reason is that it is harder for our older players to change the way they played for years to a more possession oriented style – younger players adjust better and many received better coaching in their formative years. Klinsmann is not Bielsa or Guardiola, but he is no less competent than our previous national team coaches.
C-Pul is tearing it up, will we see him included in the U20 WC squad?