U.S. U-18 MNT claims fifth at Open Nordic Cup

ANGEVI, Sweden (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team defeated Finland, 2-1, to clinch fifth place at the 2015 Open Nordic Cup in Sweden.

Griffin Dorsey gave the MNT the lead in the first half, heading home a cross sent in from the left by Jonathan Gonzalez. In the second half, Nick Taitague pushed the lead to two, banging in an assist from Justin Rennicks.

Finland just managed to get on the board, scoring in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, but the final whistle rang out shortly after.

The U-18’s finished the tournament with a 2-2-0 record, posting wins against Faroe Islands and Finland.

-U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team Match Report- 

Match: U.S. U-18 MNT vs. Finland U-17 MNT
Date: Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015
Competition: 2015 Open Nordic Cup – Placement Game
Venue: Angevi; Forshaga, Sweden
Kickoff: 12 p.m. (6 a.m. ET)
Attendance: 250
Weather: 68 degrees

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F
USA                            1          1          2
FIN                              0          1          1

USA – Griffin Dorsey (Jonathan Gonzalez)                 33rd minute
USA – Nick Taitague (Justin Rennicks)                       56
FIN – Paavo Voutilainen (Sergei Eremenko)                80+3

Lineups:
USA: 1-Eric Lopez; 4-Jordi Avila (2-Callum Stretch, 72), 17-Carson Vom Steeg (capt.), 3-Aedan Stanley; 7-Aristotle Zarris (10-Nick Taitague, 40), 13-Gabriel Paniagua (23-Jose Carranza, 73), 8-Jonathan Gonzalez, 16-Danny Jones; 14-Griffin Dorsey (9-Justin Rennicks, 52), 11-Lucas Del Rosario (6-Juan Torres, 60), 20-Andrew Carleton (15-Wilson Harris, 73)
Subs not used: 5-Calvin Aroh, 22-Brady Scott
Did not dress: 21-Raul Aguilera, Jr.
Head Coach: Javier Perez

FIN: 12-Miika Toyras; 17-Pekka Mattila, 4-Joona Rahikka (14-Sergei Eremenko, 40), 19-Samuli Leppala (16-Paavo Voutilainen, 72), 2-Tuure Mantynen (3-Kristian Heinolainen, 28); 5-Juho Montola (capt.), 15-Nikolas Saira (18-Abukar Mohamed, 59), 8-Eero Hyokyvirta, 6-Valtteri Vesiaho; 13-Henry Louko (9-Niklas Jokelainen, 48), 11-Timo Stavitski
Subs not used: 1-Johannes Luukkanen, 7-Albion Ademi, 10-Saku Ylatupa
Head Coach: Kimmo Lipponen 

Stats Summary: USA / FIN
Shots: 10 / 10
Shots on Goal: 6 / 3
Saves: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 5 / 6
Fouls: 10 / 8
Offside: 4 / 3

Misconduct Summary:
USA –Carson Vom Steeg (Caution)                          57th minute
FIN –Eero Hyokyvirta (Caution)                                 70

Officials:
Referee: Mikael Jonasson
Referee 1: Porour Arnar Arnason
Referee 2: Dan Hojgaard
Fourth Official: Alex Troleis

**PLEASE NOTE – Game was 80 minutes**