U.S. U-18 MNT roster named for 2015 Copa Chivas Internacional
CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team head coach Javier Perez has named a 20-player roster for the 2015 Copa Chivas Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico. This is the U-18 MNT’s first competition of the new year and first competition since the two-game international set against Germany in mid-December in Marbella, Spain.
The USA opens its Group A stage of Copa Chivas against Monarcas Morelia on Friday, Jan. 30 (1 p.m. ET). The U-18 MNT then faces Cruzeiro Esporte Clube on Jan. 31 (10 a.m.), Club Tijuana on Feb. 2 (10 a.m.) and Club Deportivo Universidad Católica (10 a.m.).
The top eight seeds advance to the tournament’s quarterfinal stage, which begins Feb. 5. That is followed by the semifinals on Feb. 6 and the title game on Feb. 7.
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This is the 19th edition of Copa Chivas Internacional. The tournament features three groups of five teams. Group B includes Mexico’s U-17 national team, Boca Juniors, Monterrey, River Plate and Tigres. Group C features FC Dallas, Atlas, Atlético Paranaense, Chivas Guadalajara and Urawa Red Diamonds.
The U.S. roster features 14 players who took part in the two matches against Germany to wrap up the 2014 campaign, including goal scorers Mauricio Pineda (2), Brooks Lennon and Sebastian Elney. The USA split its two-game set, defeating Germany 2-1 on Dec. 17 and falling 3-2 in the rematch two days later.
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Eighteen of the players are with current Development Academy clubs and 19 of the 20 have Academy ties.
After Copa Chivas, the U-18s will compete in the 2015 Slovakia Cup in late April.
Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jonathan Klinsmann (Strikers FC; Newport Beach, Calif.), Justin Vom Steeg (Real So Cal; Santa Barbara, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (6): David Burns (San Juan SC; El Dorado Hills, Calif.), Kyle Duncan (New York Red Bulls; Brooklyn, N.Y.), Malcolm Jones (LA Galaxy; Chino Hills, Calif.), DJ Mason (Capital Area RailHawks Academy – CASL; Morrisville, N.C.); Pablo Pelaez (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire; Bolingbrook, Ill.)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Michael Boakye (Oakwood SC; Glastonbury, Conn.), James Murphy (Players Development Academy; Scotch Plains, N.J.), Amirgy Pineda (Fullerton SC; Santa Ana, Calif.), Emmanuel Sabbi (Chicago Magic PSG; Libertyville, Ill.), Evan Waldrep (Creighton; Peoria, Ariz.), Eryk Williamson (D.C. United; Alexandria, Va.), Sean Wilson (Philadelphia Union; West Chester, Pa.), Jackson Yueill (Minnesota Thunder; Bloomington, Minn.)
FORWARDS (4): Sebastian Elney (Philadelphia Union; Boca Raton, Fla.), Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake AZ; Paradise Valley, Ariz.), Victor Mansaray (Seattle Sounders FC; Des Moines, Wash.), Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake; Casa Grande, Ariz.)
