U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team tops Japan, wins NTC Invitational

CARSON, Calif. (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team defeated Japan 2-1 to win the 2016 Under-20 Men’s NTC Invitational in Carson, Calif.

The U.S. fell behind in the sixth minute as Japan’s Ritsu Doan controlled the ball just outside the 18-yard box where he cut through the U.S. defense and slotted the ball just past goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann; the first goal conceded by the USA in the tournament.

In the 20th minute, the U.S. responded as Jeremy Ebobisse received a ball inside the box. While holding off a Japan defender, he crossed the ball toward the top of the box to Sebastian Saucedo for a first-time shot into the right side of the net to equalize, leaving the scoreline tied at halftime.

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The USA gained the lead in the 56th minute as Isaiah Young collected the ball wide. Heading toward goal, Young sent the ball across the box to Ebobisse, who finished into the back of the net, earning his third goal of the tournament.

The U.S. finished the tournament with eight goals after defeating Costa Rica (2-0), Panama (4-0) and Japan (2-1) while allowing only one goal against Japan. Just behind the USA, Japan finished in second with four points, Panama came in third with two points and Costa Rica finished the group with one point.

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Next up for the U-20 MNT is a domestic training camp set to run July 29-Aug. 8.

– U-20 Men’s National Team Match Report –

Match: U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team vs. Japan
Date: July 3, 2016
Competition: 2016 Under-20 Men’s NTC Invitational
Venue: U.S. Soccer National Training Center, Field 1; Carson, Calif.
Kickoff: 3 p.m. PT
Weather: 75 degrees, sunny

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

JPN – Ritsu Doan                                                                                    6th minute
USA – Sebastian Saucedo (Jeremy Ebobisse)                 20
USA – Jeremy Ebobisse (Isaiah Young)                                56

Lineups:
USA: 1-Jonathan Klinsmann; 17-Marlon Fossey (Aaron Herrera, 58), 13-Miles Robinson, 5-Auston Trusty, 3-Marcello Borges; 6-Danny Acosta (20-Jackson Yueill, 31), 7-Eryk Williamson, 11-Sebastian Saucedo (9-Mukwelle Akale, 81); 15-Isaiah Young (19-Victor Mansaray, 81), 16-Coy Craft (21-Brandon Vazquez, 58), 18-Jeremy Ebobisse (14-Hugo Arellano, 89)
Subs not used: 4-Andrew Lombard, 8-Luca De La Torre, 10-Weston McKinnie, 12-JT Marcinkowski
Head coach: Tab Ramos

JPN: 12-Louis Tkaji Julien Yamaguchi; 2-Takahiro Yanagi, 5-Takehiro Tomiyasu, 4-Koki Machida (19-Takuma Ominami, 46), 6-Itsuki Urata; 15-Ritsu Doan, 7-Yuta Kamiya (8-Kouta Watanabe, 46), 17-Mizuki Ichimaru (10-Kazune Kubota, 82); 18-Keita Endo (11-Yuki Kakita, 82), 13-Takeru Kishimoto (20-Yuto Iwasaki, 66), 9-Koki Ogawa
Subs not used: 1-Ryosuke Kojima, 3-Noda Hiroki, 14-Akito Takagi, 16-Masaya Kojima, 21-Yoichi Naganuma
Head coach: Atsushi Uchiyama

Stats Summary: USA / JPN
Shots: 8 / 8
Shots on Goal: 6 / 5
Saves: 4 / 4
Corner Kicks: 1 / 1
Fouls: 6 / 6
Offside: 4 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
JPN – Mizuki Ishimaru (caution)                25th minute
JPN – Koki Ogawa (caution)                         45
USA – Isaiah Young (caution)                     74
USA – Victor Mansaray (caution)             93

Officials:
Referee: Michael Radchuk (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Chris Elliott (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Eric Ehrhardt (USA)
Fourth Official: David Erbacher (USA)