U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team kicks off South America trip with 3-1 win over Uruguay

The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team scored two unanswered goals in the second half for a 3-1 win against Uruguay in an international friendly on Sunday at the Argentinos Juniors youth training facility in Buenos Aires.

The match severed as preparation for the U-17 MNT as the squad will begin play in the Four-Nations Tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 23, against Chile in Santa Fe, Argentina.

Midfielder Junior Flores spotted the U.S. a 1-0 lead in the 16^th minute, but Uruguay tied the score at 1-1 on a goal from Facundo Ospitaleche, who plays for the youth academy of Defensor Sporting Club in Uruguay.

A pair of second-half substitutes provided the U.S. with an advantage following the break. Defender Conor Donovan, who entered the match in the 53^rd minute, scored what would be credited as the game-winning goal in the 68^th minute.

Forward Rubio Rubin scored the final goal for the U.S. in the 77^th minute.

Midfielder Joel Soñora, a midfielder for Boca Juniors youth academy, was added to the U.S. roster before the match and made his first appearance for the team as a halftime substitute. Soñora’s father, Diego, played several years in Major League Soccer and won the 1999 MLS Cup with D.C. United. The younger Soñora was born in 1996 in Dallas while his father played for the Dallas Burn.

-U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team Game Report-

Match: U.S. U-17 MNT vs. Uruguay U-17 MNT
Competition: International Friendly
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina; Argentinos Juniors Youth Training Facility
Date: Oct. 21, 2012
Weather: 80 degrees; sunny

Scoring Summary             1     2      F
USA                                   1     2      3
URU                                   1     0      1

USA – Junior Flores                                         16^th minute
URU – Facundo Ospitaleche                              33
USA – Conor Donovan                                     68
USA – Rubio Rubin                                          77

Lineups:
USA: 1-Paul Christensen; 3-John Requejo Jr. (13-Elijah Martin, 46), 5-Jorge Miranda, 4-Shaquell Moore (14-Conor Donovan, 53), 2-Gonzalo Rolon (20-Christopher Lema, 70);  6-Guy Kabala (15-Joel Soñora, 46), 8-Rolando Muñoz (16-Ben Swanson, 65), 10-Junior Flores (18-Corey Baird, 79); 11-Bradford Jamieson (21-Rubio Rubin, 65), 9-Brian Pacheco (19-Wesley Wade, 65), 7-Mukwelle Akale (17-Alan Winn, 65)
Subs Not Used: 12-Jeff Caldwell
Head Coach: Richie Williams

URU: 1-Kevin Larrea; 4-Enrique Echeverry, 2-Fabrizzio Busquiazzo, 22-Emanuel Gonzalez, 18-Agustin Pirez; 5-Facundo Ospitaleche, 8-Franco Pizzichillo (13-Jhon Pintos, 65), 10-Marchio Benitez (6-Simon Hanna,65), 11-Jonathan Pinto (19-Kevin Mendez, 65) ; 7-Federico Taberia (20-Marcos Lyford, 73),  9-Francis D’Albenas (16-Gonzalo Latorre, 73)
Subs Not Used: 3- Joel Bregonis, 12-Facundo Silva, 15-Gaston Faber, 17-Pablo Gonzalez
Head Coach: Fabian Coito

Misconduct Summary:
None