By SBI SOCCER
With CONCACAF qualification for the 2016 Olympics starting in October, the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team needed a confidence boost.
They found it with a 2-0 win against Qatar Tuesday.
After a 1-0 loss to England last Thursday, the U.S. U-23s scored two second-half goals to secure a victory before they begin their journey to reach the Olympics, a task they were unable to complete in 2012.
Benji Joya drew a call in the penalty area and subsequently scored the first of the afternoon from spot in the 57th minute. Thirty minutes later, Chesterfield FC winger Gboly Ariyibi struck a volley from the top of the box into the right corner to claim the 2-0 victory at Gigg Lane in Bury, England.
While Luis Gil captained the Americans Tuesday, Rangers midfielder Gedion Zelalem and 20-year-old Molde goalkeeper Ethan Horvath made their debuts for the U-23 side.
The U.S. U-23s begin 2016 CONCACAF Olympic qualifying on Oct. 1 against Canada at Sporting Park in Kansas City.
Here is the starting lineup and substitutes used in the win against Qatar:
Goalkeeper: Ethan Horvath (46′- Zack Steffen)
Defenders: Oscar Sorto, Eric Miller, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Dillon Serna
Midfielders: Matt Polster, Luis Gil, (62′- Gboly Ariyibi), Emerson Hyndman (46′- Benji Joya), Marc Pelosi (46′- Gedion Zelalem)
Forwards: Rubio Rubin (62′- Maki Tall), Mario Rodriguez (62′- Jerome Kiesewetter)
What do you think about the Americans’ performance against Qatar? Looking forward to Olympic qualifying? Who do you think will make the squad for October?
Share your thoughts below.
Why are we playing this nation? It’s saddening to know that Qatar has our support.
Because this crop of team may meet in the 2022 WC??
There’s players 17’s and 20’s cylce better than Rodriguez and Hernandez.
This age group need Gattuso or Marcherano-type player because lacks ability to break other teams’ tempo.
If only Gattuso’s and Marcherano’s grew on trees.
Thanks for listing the starting lineup and subs made. Maybe next time the article could also include a couple of vital stats such as % of possession and shots on goal so I don’t have to go to another site for that info. And, as long as I am making suggestions, I have said this before, but it is still true, IMO. You need a bigger/ faster server. Last night when there was a lot of traffic on the site I was reading the article and posts about the Brazil game and the next second I would be back at the top of the page without touching a thing on my computer. It also took forever to post comments. No other site that I visit regularly gives me half as many problems as this one.
You are not going to find that kind of data from youth friendlies unless we are playing a major nation like England. USSoccer.com has shots/sog/corners 12/5/6 for Us and 5/2/3 Qatar.
For age group games a lineup and subs is a lot, in context. % possession and SOG? Really?
Gee, it’s one line of print and it gives one a good indication of who dominated play. The score doesn’t always tell the full story, especially in friendlies. SBI lists USSF as one of its sources. I don’t see this as so much to ask. Do you prefer less information to more?
the kids look like they care a lot more than our sad senior squad…
Well three days ago everyone said they were no good bums because they lost to England on the road.