U.S. U-17 MNT draws Brazil 1-1, places 2nd at 2018 Nike Friendlies
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team finished runners-up at the 2018 Nike International Friendlies after a 1-1 draw against Brazil in its final game.
The USA struck first, netting in first-half stoppage time, but Brazil earned a dangerous free kick on a controversial foul and turned it into the equalizer. With the result, Portugal, which defeated Turkey 4-1 in the day’s early match, wins the 2018 Nike International Friendlies, its second tournament title.
2018 Nike Men’s International Friendlies – Final Standings
| Team | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts. |
| Portugal | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 7 |
| USA | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Brazil | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 4 |
| Turkey | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 0 |
In the early-going, both teams struggled to break through a physical middle third of the field. Brazil was able to use its speed to open the game in transition, circumventing the midfield with some long passes and putting a dangerous attempt on frame in the sixth minute. Both teams started to break through at the midway point of the half. The USA earned its first solid chance on a header from Ricardo Pepi in the 27th minute, and Brazil responded with a quick strike opportunity moments later.
Griffin Yow, a spark-plug for the USA offense in its first two games, continued to create chances for the attack as the U.S. began to threaten late in the half. He made a great run in the 37th to beat his defender but hooked his shot wide to the right. Just a few minutes later, a great free kick by Giovanni Reyna was saved by the ‘keeper and bounced around the box, but the U.S. wasn’t able to finish any of the rebound opportunities.
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The USA’s breakthrough finally came in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. A nice tackle by Mason Judge teed the ball up for Reyna on the right wing. After some nifty dribbling to find space, he played a ball into the box, where Gianluca Busio sent a leaping volley downward passed the ‘keeper for the game’s opening goal at the stroke of half time.
The midfield continued to be physical in the second half, as both sides were shown yellow cards after a series of crunching tackles to begin the stanza. Brazil began to ratchet up its attacking pressure, and threatened on a number of free kicks.
In the 82nd minute, Judge and Brazil’s Reinier went for the ball near the top of the USA box and collided, both falling to the ground. The referee awarded a free kick to the South Americans, who took advantage of the set piece. Ivonei curled an inch-perfect free kick from the top of the circle over the wall inside the left post.
Brazil pushed hard for a game-winning goal late, but U.S. goalkeeper Damian Las answered the call, making several saves down the stretch.
In the day’s opening match, Portugal was stunned by an early goal, but came back to defeat Turkey 4-1. Goalkeeper Samuel Soares won the tournament Golden Glove award, while teammate Tiago Tomás earned the Golden Boot as the competition’s top scorer.
+READ: U.S. U-17 MNT shuts out Turkey 1-0 in Nike International Friendlies
Turkey, which had lost both its prior games 1-0 to the USA and Brazil, took the early, shock lead when a poor clearance from Portugal right up the middle rolled to Hakan Yesil, who picked out the bottom left corner with a 20-yard blast past the goalkeeper, who was screened by the forest of players in front of him.
From there, it was all Portugal despite some hearty defending from Turkey. Gerson Sousa bagged the equalizer with the last kick of the first half, running onto a perfect lead pass from Felipe Cruz and pinging a one-time shot off the near-right post into the back of the net.
Portugal picked right up where they left off in the first half and took a 2-1 lead when Henrique Pereira put home the rebound from a strong, left-footed blast by Bruno Tavares in the 51st minute. Pereira then played the creator, dancing along the end line before crossing to Rodrigo Rego to stab home in the 61st minute, and the two leading scorers at the 2018 Nike Friendlies then combined to seal the deal in the 73rd minute as Sousa got free down the right before feeding Thiago Tomas at the back left post to cement the final 4-1 scoreline.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Gianluca Busio (Giovanni Reyna), 45+1: A nice tackle by Mason Judge near the center line poked the ball up to Gianluca Busio, who played to Giovanni Reyna on the right wing. He worked his defender down the sideline, turning up and down field near the end line to shake his marker and create space. When he got a step on his mark, Reyna lofted a ball into the box near the corner of the six-yard box. Busio leapt up to volley the ball in for the game’s opening goal. USA 1, BRA 0[WATCH]
BRA – Ivonei, 84th minute: After ratcheting up its pressure throughout the second half and earning a number of dangerous free kick opportunities, Brazil capitalized in the 84th minute. Ivonei lined up the free kick near the top of the circle, and expertly curled a booming kick over the wall of defenders inside the left post. USA 1, BRA 1. FINAL.
Key Stops:
USA – Damian Las, 6th minute: Brazil broke through for the first dangerous chance of the game in the opening minutes. Jumping on a misplayed USA pass, Gabriel Silva ran free through the final third as Fabinho attempted to close in. As he approached, Silva faced the ‘keeper one-on-one and launched a hard shot from 12 yards out, but Las got his hands up and deflected it over the crossbar.
BRA – Gabriel Pereira, 27th minute: Tayvon Gray shuttled a ball from goalkeeper Damian Las to midfielder Giovanni Reyna as he cut through the center channel. Reyna dished to Joseph Scally running up the right wing, and he delivered a service into the box that found the head of forward Ricardo Pepi. Pepi put his header on frame, but Brazil goalkeeper Gabriel Pereira made a nice save to keep the game scoreless.
BRA – Gabriel Pereira, 42nd minute: A great USA chance came as a bouncing ball in the box created chaos. Giovanni Reyna hit a great free kick on goal from just outside the area, but Gabriel Pereira dove to deflect it. The ball bounced out to the sideline, where Griffin Yow played it back into the box. It bounced past the ‘keeper to Mason Judge, who slid to push it in, but had the ball poked away by a Brazilian defender on the goal line. Ricardo Pepi hit the rebound, but Brazil managed another goal-line deflection. Joseph Scally smacked the last rebound in the air from the penalty spot, but his shot went wide.
– U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team vs. Brazil
Date: December 2, 2018
Competition: 2018 Nike International Friendlies
Venue: Premier Sports Campus; Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
Attendance: TBD
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. ET
Weather: 70 degrees; clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 0 1
BRA 0 1 1
USA – Gianluca Busio (Giovanni Reyna) 45+1st minute
BRA – Ivonei Rabelo 84
Lineups:
USA: 1-Damian Las; 3-Adam Armour, 5-Kobe Hernandez, 2-Joe Scally, 14-Mason Judge; 11-Griffin Yow, 6-Tayvon Gray, 21-Gianluca Busio (4-Axel Alexandre, 90), 10-Giovanni Reyna (capt.); 18-Peter Stroud (8-Adam Saldana, 63), 19-Ricardo Pepi (9-Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, 63)
Substitutes not used: 12-Chituru Odunze, 7-Andre Luiz Costa, 15-Sebastian Falsone, 16-William Reilly, 17-Cameron Dunbar, 20-Daniel Robles
Head Coach: Shaun Tsakiris
BRA: 1-Gabriel Pereira; 3-Henri Santos (capt.), 2-Yan Couto (19-Neto, 63), 15-Gustavo, 13-Derick (18-Ivonei Rabelo, 83); 10-Reinier Carvalho, 5-Fabinho, 11-Talles Magno, 20-Iago (4-Renan, 46); 8-Talles Costa (7-Diego Rosa, 70), 9-Gabriel Vieira (17-Kawan, 83)
Substitutes not used: 6-Eduardo Jesus, 12-Cristian, 16-Riquelme, 14-Gabriel Noga,
Head coach: Guilherme Dea
Stats Summary: USA / BRA
Shots: 12 / 14
Shots on Goal: 4 / 7
Saves: 6 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 4
Fouls: 19 / 21
Offside: 2 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
BRA – Renan (caution) 53rd minute
USA – Peter Stroud (caution) 55
BRA – Yan Couto (caution) 58
Officials:
Referee: Elijio Arreguin (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Melissa Gonzalez (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Cephas Quartson (USA)
4th Official: Ceciah Valero (USA)
ussoccer.com Man of the Match: TBD
