U-17 USMNT finishes Nike International Friendlies with 2-2 draw vs. the Netherlands

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team and the Netherlands closed out the 19th annual Nike International Friendlies with a 2-2 draw, helping the U.S. U-16 side win the competition at the Premier Sports Campus on Monday night.

Jack De Vries scored one goal and set up another by Noah Jones for the U.S. U-17s.

Despite Yusuf Barasi’s dramatic, 90th-minute equalizer, the result denied the Dutch (1-0-2; 5pts) a chance to secure the title as the U.S. U-16’s finished with a 2-0-1 mark and seven points. The U.S. U-17’s (1-1-1; 4pts) took third, followed by Turkey (0-3-0, 0), which suffered three one-goal defeats.

Goal-scoring chances for both teams in the opening half were few and far between as saves by goalkeepers and defenders were the most memorable plays.

The encounter certainly heated up in the final 45 minutes.

Three minutes into the second half, the Americans broke the ice. The Dutch had problems clearing the ball out of the area as it bounded off Gabi Caschili to the USA’s Jack De Vries. De Vries got a step on defender Solomon Bonnah and poked the ball past goalkeeper Robin Roefs for a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute.

While battling a defender for an air ball in front of the net, Dutch striker Barasi thought he had tied the game, but he was called for a handball in the 53rd minute.

De Vries turned playmaker in the 56th minute when he passed through four Dutch players to Noah Jones in the box. Jones found room and lofted a left-footed, 12-yard shot past Roefs into the net for a two-goal margin.

The Netherlands sliced the lead in half in the 64th minute on a 50-yard run and goal by Dillon Hoogewerf. Hoogewerf got multiple defenders before beating goalkeeper Seth Wilson from a near-impossible angle at the near post.

The visitors refused to give up and after a few close encounters, connected for the tying goal in the 90th minute. Gabi Caschili won the ball and passed to Hoogewerf at the top of the penalty arc. Hoogewerf found Barasi, who beat Wilson from 15 yards for a 2-2 deadlock.

Two minutes into added time, Wilson denied the Dutch and Hoogewerf a game-winning goal with a kick save.

The U.S. U-17’s played a good portion of the five minutes of stoppage down with 10 men after Rickson Van Hees went off the field with an injury. He eventually came back on to help his team close out the match.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN: 

USA – Jack De Vries, 48th minute: With the Dutch experiencing problems clearing the box, the ball bounded off Gabi Caschili to the USA’s Jack De Vries. De Vries got a step on defender Solomon Bonnah and poked the ball past goalkeeper Robin Roefs for the first goal of the match. USA 1, NED 0

USA – Noah Jones (Jack De Vries), 56th minute: Jack De Vries turned playmaker in the 56th minute when he pin-pointed a perfect pass through four players to Noah Jones in the penalty area. Jones lofted a left-footed, 12-yard shot past goalkeeper Robin Roefs into the net for a two-goal margin. USA 2, NED 0

NED – Dillon Hoogewerf, 64th minute: Dillon Hoogewerf tallied a highlight reel goal off a brilliant 50-yard run on the right flank. He beat John Tolkin and then Joshua Ramsey before solving goalkeeper Seth Wilson from a near-impossible angle at the right near post. USA 2, NED 1

NED – Yusuf Barasi (Dillon Hoogewerf), 90th minute: Gabi Cashili won the ball in the USA end and passed to it to Dillon Hoogewerf at the top of the penalty arc. Hoogewerf quickly found Barasi, who beat keeper Seth Wilson from 15 yards for a 2-2 deadlock. USA 2, NED 2 FINAL

KEY SAVES & DEFENSIVE STOPS:

USA goalkeeper Seth Wilson kept the Dutch off the scoreboard with a fine kick save in 35th minute. Salah Ouland M’Hand sent a right-wing cross to Yusuf Barari, whose close-range shot was kicked away by the netminder.

Wilson came up big again two minutes into stoppage time as he denied Hoogewerf a game-winning goal via a save with his right foot from point-blank range.