By FRANCO PANIZO
As if punching a ticket to the World Cup was not sweet enough, the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team and its players claimed a number awards after their performance at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship.
CONCACAF handed out its post-tournament awards over the weekend, and two Americans in midfielder Romain Gall and defender Shaquell Moore were named to the Best XI. Gall started each of the last four games for the U.S. and scored five goals, while Moore was given the nod in five of the Americans’ six matches and helped them record three of the four consecutive shutouts they posted to close out the competition.
Additionally, Gall took a split of the Golden Boot with Mexico’s Hirving Lozano, and the U.S. was named the winner of the Fair Play award.
Tab Ramos’ side qualified for the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand this summer on Saturday, beating El Salvador, 2-0, in a knock-out round game. The Americans compiled a 4-1-1 overall record in the regional tournament in Jamaica.
Here is a rundown of all the awards:
2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship
Best XI
Goalkeeper: Jaime De Gracia (Panama)
Right Defender: Shaquell Moore (United States)
Central Defender: Rodrigo Gonzalez (Mexico)
Central Defender: Chin Hormechea (Panama)
Left Defender: Kevin Galvan (Panama)
Right Midfielder: Hirving Lozano (Mexico)
Central Midfielder: Erick Gutierrez (Mexico)
Central Midfielder: Luis Pereira (Panama)
Left Midfielder: Romain Gall (United States)
Forward: Alejandro Diaz (Mexico)
Forward: Ismael Diaz (Panama)
AWARDS
Golden Ball
Luis Pereira (Panama)
Golden Boot
Romain Gall (United States) & Hirving Lozano (Mexico), 5 goals
Golden Glove
Jaime De Gracia (Panama)
Fair Play Award
USA
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What do you think of Gall and Moore being named to the tournament’s Best XI? Should any other American have earned consideration? Agree with the U-20 USMNT winning the Fair Play award?
Share your thoughts below.
So glad we got the fair play award!
Fair play in CONCACAF . . . I’m confused.
Nonsense. This is the most-sought after award in the region…. it doesn’t exactly come with a “trophy”, but it does come with a framed photograph of Jack Warner, a $25 gift certificate for “beer/vomit stain removal”, and a phantom yellow card for the player of your choice, delivered my myself personally (Señor Besler simply loved his). Everything an American could want, no?
Cant believe Shaq doesn’t have a team yet. Kid has speed, some skills and can run forever.
I thought CCV was better than Moore. Gall shows promise but he was a disappointment to me, too many wasted chances. I guess it helps to play vs. Aruba.
Thought Hyndman, Carter-Vickers, and Miazga were the best overall players for the U.S. But congrats to Moore and Gall, nonetheless. On to New Zealand.