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U.S. U-20 MNT downs Mexico to claim back-to-back Concacaf Championships

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Being able to go unbeaten in any tournament is impressive. Defeating your biggest rivals in the final makes lifting the championship that much more memorable.

The U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team made it back-to-back Concacaf Championship titles with a 2-0 finals victory over rivals Mexico in Bradenton on Wednesday evening.

Alex Mendez capped off a superb tournament, scoring a brace in the triumph. He would later claim the Golden Ball as the tournament MVP.

Mendez broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, rifling home first time just outside of the box. The midfielder’s left-footed shot found the bottom-right corner.

Brady Scott made an important kick save in the 42nd minute to keep Tab Ramos’ side in front.

Quickly into the second-half, Mendez doubled his tally to add to the hosts advantage.

A clever 1-2 with Paxton Pomykal allowed Mendez to strike home his eighth goal of the tournament, after he slid home from close range.

Scott continued his strong performance in goal, keeping out a pair of good efforts from Mexico later in the half. Mendez missed out on a hat trick, rattling the left post with a beautifully taken free kick.

At the final whistle, the U.S. U-20’s got to celebrate over Mexico with a comfortable championship win.

Scott was awarded the Golden Glove for the tournament’s top goalkeeper, while Mendez tied the U.S. all-time record for most goals scored by a single player at the Concacaf Championship.

Ramos’ side will now head into a break before reconvening ahead of next summer’s 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Comments

  1. Saw a number of the U-20 games and the difference from senior team is that these kids seemed to be capable of holding and moving the ball under pressure. England and Italy constantly made our players cough up the ball with obvious results.

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  2. Just send this team, on Feb, to play Costa Rica.
    Dest, Mendez, Scott, both CB’s, and the kid from Dallas should be playing C or B level national teams, and base for Olympic team.

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  3. While I’m happy for these kids, there is a big difference between youth tournaments and success at the Sr. Levels (Club & Country). Hopefully some of these kids make a successful transition to the U-23 Olympics team and can progress from there.

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  4. This team is great in every way. Tab has done a good job for a long time and truly deserves to be the next MNT coach. He has more results than the MLS coach thats name is being kicked around.

    PICK TAB ERNIE

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    • The USSF could do worse . . . and they probably will.How many other US men’s coaches have won back to back regional championships at any level? I think the answer is none.

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  5. This team played with flair that is rarely seen in US shirts. Tab Ramos is to be congratulated for a great job. The team was well organized and attacked with a confidence that we need at the upper levels. All we can do is hope that this group makes the transition as well as the Landon Donovan cycle did. That would be really what our program needs.

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    • Agree some of these kids looked good especially Dest and Scott, just hope they can find first team mins whether a loan or with their club with the latter being more difficult. This is good to see overall because this wasn’t a full strength team for the age group, when the U.S. Youth teams can win games and qualify with out its best players show that the youth development has gotten better but still they need to develop from here to the senior team and their club teams

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    • Where we need to see it translate is with their clubs. Can these guys get minutes above reserve or youth level? Some are stuck behind vets in MLS while others have made recent moves to Europe

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      • MLS sucks for player development. Joke of a league paying old timers and giving them time that should be given to any 16 year old with talent like in Brazil. We’re not the epl no idea why these teams try and act like they are

      • Jonathan because at the end of the day most clubs put profit above performance. Old timers sell jerseys and put casual fans in seats.

    • Johnathon: Recently, the most successful team in MLS has been the NY Red Bulls and they have relied heavily on young and home-grown players. Apart from BWP and Robles, the squad is young and is full of young NY area players: Muyl, Adams, Davis, Lade, Meara, Mines, Duncan and Politz, 4 of whom are routine players on the squad.

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