U.S. U-17 MNT falls to England 3-2 in Nike International Friendlies

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Florida (Via U.S. Soccer) – The United States Under-17 Men’s National Team got second half goals from Chris Goslin and Andrew Carleton, but a late strike from Jadon Sancho saw the side fall 3-2 to the England Under-17 Men’s National Team to open up the 2015 Nike International Friendlies Wednesday at Premier Sports Campus.

England would find the first big chance of the game in the eighth minute as Nya Kirby collected the ball on the right side of the area, before unleashing a swerving blast that ringed off the top left corner of the goal.

The U.S. nearly bagged the first goal of the match in the 16^th minute. Seeing England ‘keeper Thomas McGill well off his line, right back Bryan Perez cut inside and looped a hopeful ball toward the back post, but it didn’t dip quite enough, instead landing on the top-side netting.

England took back control of the match and hit the woodwork for the second time in the 20^th minute. Following a dangerous England scramble in the box, the ball fell for Jadon Sancho on the left, who curled his effort off Alex Budnik’s cross bar.

Five minutes later, the visitors would find the game’s first goal. After a nice buildup in midfield, Sancho played Ryan Sessegnon into space on the left. Sessegnon powered to the end line before hitting a low cross for Daniel Loader who one-timed past Budnik in the 25^thminute.

The U.S. stabilized things toward the end of halftime and came close again just before the break. George Acosta played a shorted corner to Andrew Carleton on the left, before Carleton returned the pass. Acosta drove toward goal and unleashed a low blast that England ‘keeper Thomas McGill kept out at the near post.

The U.S. would come out with renewed purpose early in the second half. In the 43^rd minute, Chris Goslin’s long ball over the top was settled by Sargent who played halftime substitute Ayo Akinola through alone. Akinola drove toward goal but saw his low blast put out with a diving stop by McGill.

Following a series of corner kicks two minutes later, Andrew Carleton took a crack from distance before Sargent followed up with a closer shot, only to see McGill come off his line to make the save. The ball would pop out of the box where Chris Durkin collected before earning a free kick 25 yards from goal after a foul from Nya Kirby.

The U.S. would equalize on the ensuing effort as Chris Goslin’s right-footed blast froze McGill and tucked inside the upper left corner in the 46^th minute.

With all to play for the U.S. continued to push forward in search of the go-ahead goal and it didn’t take long. Earning a corner kick in the 50^th minute, Perez played short for Carleton on the left, who collected before being hauled down in the area, forcing referee Guido Gonzales, Jr. to point to the spot. Carleton decided to finish what he started, sending McGill left as his effort went right to give the U.S. a 2-1 lead in the 51^st minute.

England would work their way back, gaining a penalty kick of their own as Loader broke into the area before being upended at the top of the box by Perez as Gonzalez, Jr. again pointed to the spot.  This time, Sancho stepped up and wrong footed Budnik, pulling the game level at 2-2 in the 64^th minute.

Just as the match looked destined to end in a draw, England would grab the game-winner in the dying moments. Marc Guehi’s dipping cross from the right picked out Sancho who flicked his effort past Budnik for his second goal of the game.

With the result, England (1-0-0; 3 pts.) sit atop the table with The Netherlands (1-0-0; 3 pts.) while the U.S. and Brazil sit 0-1-0 after their first matches of the tournament. The 2015 Nike International Friendlies continue on Friday, Dec. 4 as England faces Brazil at 3 p.m. ET followed by the U.S. against The Netherlands at 6 p.m. ET. Both matches will be shown live atyoutube.com/ussoccer.

– Under-17 Men’s National Team Match Report –

Match: United States U-17 Men’s National Team vs England Under-17 Men’s National Team
Date: December 2, 2015
Competition: 2015 Nike International Friendlies
Venue: Premier Sports Campus; Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Weather: 79 degrees; mostly sunny

Scoring Summary:       1          2          F
USA                                0         2          2
ENG                                1          2          3

ENG –    Daniel Loader ( Ryan Sessegnon)          25^th minute                
USA –    Chris Goslin                                                46
USA –   Andrew Carleton (penalty kick)               51
ENG –    Jadon Sancho (penalty kick)                   64                
ENG –   Jadon Sancho (Marc Guehi)                      80+3         

Lineups:
USA: 1-Alex Budnik, 2-Bryan Perez, 3-Kelee Cornfield-Saunders, 4-Jaylin Lindsey, 5-Ray McGann (capt.) (17-Ayo Akinola; 41), 6-Chris Durkin, 7-Timothy Weah (19-Tonny Temple, 61); 8-Chris Goslin (20-James Sands, 75); 9-Joshua Sargent, 10-George Acosta (13-Adrian Villegas, 61); 11-Andrew Carleton,
Subs not used: 12-Justin Garces, 13-Adrian Villegas, 14-Arturo Wasquez, 15-Jake Arteaga, 16-Blaine Ferri, 18-Chandler Vaughn
Head coach: John Hackworth

ENG: 1-Thomas McGill, 2-Marc Guehi, 3-Ryan Sessegnon, 4-Tashan Oakley Booth (14-Oliver Skipp, 72); 5-Jonathan Panzo, 6-Colin Rosler, 8-Nya Kirby (20-Ian Carlo Poveda, 60); 9-Daniel Loader, 10-Angel Gomes (capt.), 11-Jadon Sancho, 15-Timothy Eyoma
Subs not used: 7-Emile Smith Rowe, 12-Steven Sessegnon, 13-Curtis Anderson, 16-Zech Medley, 17-Phil Foden, 18-George McEachran, 19-Austin Samuels
Head coach: Dan Micciche

Stats Summary: USA / ENG
Shots: 11 / 11
Shots on Goal: 4 / 2
Saves: 0 / 2
Corner Kicks: 6 / 9
Fouls: 11 / 8
Offside: 1 / 3

Misconduct Summary:
ENG –   Timothy Eyoma (caution)           70^th minute
USA –   Chris Durkin (caution)                 69

Referee:                        Guido Gonzales Jr. (USA)
Asst. Referee 1:           Logan Brown (USA)
Asst. Referee 2:           Francisco Bermudez (USA)
4^th Official:                   Matthew Kreitzer (USA)