By FRANCO PANIZO
On the brink of starting its April camp with a loss, the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team got a dramatic late goal from one of its regulars to salvage a result.
Orlando City center back Conor Donovan scored following a corner kick in the 84th minute to give a largely at-strength U.S. side a 2-2 draw with Qatar in a friendly on Tuesday. Donovan’s goal saved the Americans from losing a match in Linz, Austria, that they initially led before Qatar flipped the script by striking twice in the second half.
Club Tijuana attacker Amando Moreno opened the scoring for the U.S. in the 22nd minute, but Qatar canceled that out with a converted penalty kick a minute into the second half.
The Qataris then jumped out in front in the 75th minute, putting Tab Ramos’ side in jeopardy of losing its penultimate tune-up before World Cup squads are announced next month.
The U.S. stayed resilient, however, and the 19-year-old Donovan came to the rescue with his first goal of the calendar year, six minutes before the final whistle.
The Americans are currently gearing up for the start of the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand next month with a short European camp. They will play Croatia in four days in their final friendly before Ramos has to decide on his 21 players for the tournament.
Here is the starting lineup for the U-20s’ 2-2 draw with Qatar:
Zack Steffen; Shaquell Moore; Cameron Carter-Vickers; Matt Miazga, John Requejo; Amando Moreno, Ethan Sonis, Joel Sonora; Lynden Gooch, Maki Tall, Junior Flores
What do you think of the U.S. U-20s’ 2-2 draw with Qatar? Who would you like to see start against Croatia?
Share your thoughts below.
What game is that photo from? Certainly not U.S. vs. Qatar!
It looks like Aruba from WC Qualification.
So who committed the foul that lead to the PK, and was it something stupid or was it a professional foul?
The best national team that money can buy.
You know, when you look at the Qatari roster, they have a good amount of players who play for top-level sides like Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. They have talent, and with their Spanish coach, they have steadily improved tactically. I didn’t see the game, but if the lineup played as presented, I don’t understand why Armando Moreno and Junior Flores are in each others best position?
Because you know Ramos is smarter than all of the managers these players play for and knows best. In all seriousness, who knows what gores through his mind.
Please use this boy’s first and last name in any headlines. My mind can’t handle this as is.
actually im not surprised. Those players for Qatar are not even Qatari they are from mostly african nations whom get paid insane amounts to move to Qatar become a citizen and have to change their name to something Arabic. Qatar buys all of their athletes. No Wealthy youngster or adult want to be part of sports as an athlete. sad that fifa lets this go.
‘Insane amounts of money’ is pretty much an umbrella explanation for the strange happenings in all high level sports.
U-20s squeaked out a draw vs Qatar? That’s not good.
I suggest watching one of the 2 specials on Qatar on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO. One was on the brutal work conditions and the other was on Qatari sports. None of the athletes are Qatari. They are are foreigners who are given citizenship for a ridiculous amount of money if the become citizens while the compete for Qatar. but given up citizenship after they become citizens. The wrestlers and weight lifters are Eastern Europeans (at least one of them received a medal in the Olympics), the track stars are African and Easter European, and the soccer players are all youth soccer starts from all over Africa. It really is disgusting.
Well said
that headline made me feel warm and fuzzy inside…
I agree. For a moment, I thought Ives decided to give us a throwback article to the year 2000.
I am checking to see if that is allowed in soccer blogging, pretty sure it is against the rules.
That would be nice if we are just starting that phase. With the talent in the pipeine we have.
Maybe he leaves San Jose for the Sounders this time.
yup.
The alarms rang during qualifying for the WC that the coaching was not up to standards. Coaching at this level will be our downfall, not talent.
yeah we are never going to get anywhere with these homegrown coaches…must go to europe….germany for sure…