U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team routs Portugal at Nike Friendlies
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team used a hat trick from captain Josh Sargent, a brace from Andrew Carleton and second half markers from Ayo Akinola and Rayshaun McGann to open the 2016 Nike International Friendlies with an impressive 7-1 win against Portugal at Premier Sports Campus on Wednesday night.
Carleton got the scoring started when he buried a penalty kick in the eighth minute, while Sargent’s clean finish gave the U.S. a 2-0 advantage inside the first 19 minutes. After Portugal’s Umaro Embalo pulled one back four minutes later, Carleton restored the two-goal advantage with a tremendous half-volley before halftime.
The U.S. poured on the pressure in the second half, with Sargent outmuscling his mark to earn a brace in the 54th minute, while Akinola got on the score sheet when he redirected Carleton’s shot nine minutes later. Sargent completed his hat trick with a clinical back heel in the 82nd minute before McGann’s driven blast in second half stoppage time capped the score at 7-1.
With the win, the U.S. moves to the top of the 2016 Nike International Friendlies standings, beating out Brazil on goal difference.
2016 Nike International Friendlies Standings
Team GP W L D Pts. GF GA GD USA 1 1 0 0 3 7 1 +6 Brazil 1 1 0 0 3 4 2 +2 Turkey 1 0 1 0 0 2 4 -2 Portugal 1 0 1 0 0 1 7 -6
Next on the Schedule: A Turkey side that battled, but eventually fell 4-2 to Brazil in Wednesday’s tournament opener awaits the USA on Friday at 7 p.m. ET. That match will be preceded by Brazil facing off with Portugal at 3:30 p.m. ET. Both games can be seen live on U.S. Soccer’s Facebook page, YouTube channel and ussoccer.com.
+Read: USA draws Group B for CONCACAF U-20 Men’s Championship
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Andrew Carleton (penalty kick), 8th minute: After goalkeeper Justin Garces made a routine save at the other end, the USA quickly moved into transition. From the midfield stripe, Arturo Vasquez played a well-placed through ball that Ayo Akinola got on the end of before being chopped down in the penalty area by Joao Pedro Monteiro Oliveira, forcing center referee Farhad Dadkho to point to the spot. Up stepped Andrew Carleton who sent Portugal goalkeeper Joao Monteiro the wrong way as he expertly fired his penalty into the top left corner. USA 1, POR 0
USA – Josh Sargent (Ayo Akinola), 19th minute: The U.S. would double their advantage in the 19th minute when Akinola forced a turnover at midfield and quickly progressed towards goal. Drawing a defender to him, Akinola played a well-timed ball for Josh Sargent in the area, with the U.S. captain doing well to place his effort inside the lower left post. USA 2, POR 0
POR – Umaro Embalo (Mamadou Kone), 23rd minute: Portugal fought back four minutes laterwhen an errant pass out of the back was intercepted at the midfield stripe by Mamadou Kone. The Benfica product took advantage of the space up the right flank before finding Umaro Embalo, who curled his shot past onrushing goalkeeper Justin Garces. USA 2, POR 1
USA – Andrew Carleton (George Acosta), 37th minute: The U.S. restored their two-goal edge when another turnover in midfield saw George Acosta play a looping ball into the box for Carleton. The recent Atlanta United signing took the ball on the bounce, sending his left-footed half-volley into the lower right corner of the net for his second of the match. USA 3, POR 1
USA – Josh Sargent (Blaine Ferri), 55th minute: A clearance out of the back by Monteiro went straight to George Acosta. The U.S. midfielder played a simple pass for Blaine Ferri who made a penetrating run before slotting a ball for Sargent at the top of the area. The U.S. captain did well to muscle off his defender before slipping his second of the match past the Portuguese goalkeeper. USA 4, POR 1
USA – Ayo Akinola (Andrew Carleton), 63rd minute: The U.S. added a fifth goal just after the hour mark when a cross from the left was chased down by Sargent, who played back for Carleton at the top of the box. Looking for his hat trick, Carleton was off the mark with his shot, but it fell directly into Akinola’s path, who redirected past Monteiro from close range. USA 5, POR 1
USA – Josh Sargent (unassisted), 82nd minute: Sargent earned his hat trick just before exiting the match when FC Dallas attacker Bryan Reynolds Jr. danced up the left end and crossed the ball in for the U.S. captain. The ball deflected off a Portuguese defender, but Sargent reacted well with a clever back heel to seal his third goal of the night. USA 6, POR 1
USA – Rayshaun McGann (Bryan Reynolds Jr.) 90+2 minute: Reynolds Jr. would get his assist in the dying moments of the match, playing a square pass for Rayshaun McGann on the left before the Philadelphia Union product launched a rocket past Monteiro, sending the U.S. home with a six-goal advantage. USA 7, POR 1
Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
USA – Justin Garces, 43rd minute: Portugal threatened the U.S. goal just before halftime when some great individual skill by Rafael Camacho on the left saw the Liverpool FC midfielder lob in a cross that goalkeeper Justin Garces came off his line to sweep out of danger just as Tiago Rodrigues was lurking on the doorstep.
USA – Justin Garces, 51st minute: After a failed U.S. build-up, Portugal center back Tiago Djalo intercepted a ball out of the back and went unchallenged on an impressive 70-yard run before unleashing a well-hit right-footed blast that Garces dove to his left to push off the post before the danger was cleared.
POR – Joao Monteiro, 62nd minute: U.S. midfielder George Acosta made a gallivanting run through midfield before laying a square pass for Carleton on the left. Taking the ball into the box with pace, the U.S. forward launched a high effort that Monteiro parried away to his right.
– 2016 U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team vs. Portugal
Date: Nov. 30, 2016
Competition: 2016 Nike International Friendlies
Venue: Premier Sports Campus Stadium Field; Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
Kickoff: 7:15 p.m. ET
Attendance: N/A
Weather: 73 degrees; clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 3 4 7
POR 1 0 1
USA – Andrew Carleton (penalty kick) 8th minute
USA – Josh Sargent (Ayo Akinola) 19
POR – Umaro Embalo (Mamadou Kone) 23
USA – Andrew Carleton (George Acosta) 37
USA – Josh Sargent (Blaine Ferri) 55
USA – Ayo Akinola (Andrew Carleton) 63
USA – Josh Sargent (unassisted) 82
USA – Rayshaun McGann (Bryan Reynolds, Jr.) 90+2
Lineups:
USA: 1-Justin Garces; 2-Jaylin Lindsey, 4-James Sands, 5-Arturo Vasquez, 3-Christopher Gloster; 8-Blaine Ferri (16-Rayshaun McGann, 75), 6-Christopher Durkin (15-Carlos Asensio, 83), 10-George Acosta (20-Isaac Angking, 75); 7-Ayo Akinola (17-Bryan Reynolds Jr., 67),
9-Josh Sargent (13-Sergino Dest, 83), 11-Andrew Carleton (19-Timothy Weah, 67)
Subs not used: 12-Carlos Joaquim Dos Santos, 14-Carlo Ritaccio, 18-Indiana Vassilev
Head coach: John Hackworth
POR: 1-Joao Monteiro; 2-Mamadou Kone (13-Joao Ferreira, 60), 3-Goncalo Loureiro (14-Baba Fernandes, 60), 4-Tiago Djalo, 5-Joao Pedro Monteiro Oliveira; 8-Romario Baro, 6-Afonso Sousa, 10-Bernardo Sousa (16-Henrique Jocu, 60); 7-Umaro Embalo (18-Pedro Neto, 66),
9-Tiago Rodrigues (19-Leandro Campos, 60), 11-Rafael Camacho (17-Rodrigo Conceicao, 66)
Subs not used: 12-Joao Goncalo, 15-Tiago Dantas, 20-Andre Almeida
Head coach: Jose Guillherme
Stats Summary: USA / POR
Shots: 15 / 8
Shots on Goal: 11 / 6
Saves: 5 / 4
Corner Kicks: 2 / 2
Fouls: 13 / 8
Offside: 2 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Andrew Carleton (caution) 31st minute
USA – George Acosta (caution) 42
Officials:
Referee: Farhad Dadkho (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Jeremy Weed (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Adrienne McDonald (USA)
4th Official: Joseph Dickerson (USA)
