U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team earns win, draw vs. Costa Rica
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team scored a big win in their first of two friendlies vs. Costa Rica at Proyecto Goal on Saturday. The 4-0 victory was followed up with a 0-0 draw against the same Costa Rica U-20 team two days later, on December 19.
The U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team head coach Tab Ramos was pleased with his team’s efforts over the course of the two games. In the first game, the offensive attack was able to break down the Costa Rican defense. Keeping pressure in the box, Costa Rica conceded two penalty kicks, both of which were taken and converted by Sebastian Saucedo (45’+1, 56). The U.S. continued to apply pressure in the second half and put the game away for good in a seven-minute span where Jeremy Ebobisse and Tyler Adams found the back of the net in the 61st and 67th minutes, respectively. Defensively, J.T. Marcinkowski keep the Costa Rica offense in check, recording a clean sheet in front of the net.
In the team’s second matchup, the U.S. offensive attack had a more difficult time creating chances with few opportunities to score. The team did find themselves with a couple chances early, but the team’s inability to put them away made the remainder of the contest tougher to stay aggressive in the box. On the defensive side, the U.S. once again held Costa Rica, with Jonathan Klinsmann leading the stat lines with the shutout.
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“I think the team played hard in both games, Ramos said. “We were able to break them down more in the first game and that is why the score was what it was. Our second game was a tougher game with few chances to score. This was disappointing on our side as we were hoping to break them down a little bit easier. Games down here are always difficult, but I’m very happy with the team and where we are, looking forward.”
Outside of the games, Ramos was also encouraged with the team’s acclimation to San Jose, the site of the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, which will take place Feb. 17 – March 5, where the USA will look to qualify for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.
“I think we checked every box on this trip,” Ramos said. “We had an opportunity to play very tough games in which there was no room for error. We did that on the road, in Costa Rica, where World Cup qualifying is going to be. We stayed in the hotel where we will be staying in February and visited the stadiums where we will be playing the games. We had the opportunity to train in the same facility that we will be training in during qualifying, so that was an added incentive for us to be able to come down here. The players responded well and they understood that all these experiences will help us down the road in February, so that our number one job is going to be playing the games and winning the games and not adjusting to the environment.”
The USA’s U-20 squad will regroup in early January for a fitness and training camp in Bradenton, Fla., before the team gets together in Carson a few days later.
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– U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team vs. Costa Rica
Date: Dec. 17, 2016
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Proyecto Goal; San Jose, Costa Rica
Kickoff: 10 a.m. ET (9 a.m. local)
Attendance: 200
Weather: 79 degrees, clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 3 4
CRC 0 0 0
USA – Sebastian Saucedo (PK) 45+1 minute
USA – Sebastian Saucedo (PK) 56
USA – Jeremy Ebobisse (Nick Taitague) 61
USA – Tyler Adams (Sebastian Saucedo) 67
Lineups:
USA: 22-JT Marcinkowski; 2-Aaron Herrera (8-Derrick Jones, 68), 4-Tommy Redding (capt.) (13-Miles Robinson, 68), 15-Justen Glad (5-Auston Trusty, 68), 3-Marcello Borges (14-Jake Morris, 68); 16-Eryk Williamson, 6-Danny Acosta (23-Tyler Adams, 45), 19-Victor Mansaray (10-Emmanuel Sabbi, 45); 11-Sebastian Saucedo, 21-Brandon Vazquez (9-Jeremy Ebobisse, 45), 7-Nick Taitague (17-Jonathan Lewis, 68)
Subs Not Used: 1-Jonathan Klinsmann
Head coach: Tab Ramos
CRC: 1-Bryan Segura (18-Eiego Rivas, 78); 3-John Lara (12-Greivin Marchena, 56), 2-Kevin Espinoza, 5-Esteban Gonzalez (capt.) (14-Fernan Faerron, 76), 6-Esteban Espinoza; 16-Bernal Alfaro (10-Johnatan Martinez, 64), 8-Fabrizio Ramirez (20-Eduardo Juarez, 56), 13-Yurgen Roman; 7-Jimmy Marin, 9-Sergio Ramirez (19-Javier Camareno, 41), 11-Shuander Zuniga (15-Daniel Villegas, 64)
Subs Not Used: 21-Alonso Martinez, 22-Karin Arce
Head coach: Marcelo Herrera
Stats Summary: USA / CRC
Shots: 8 / 9
Shots on Goal: 4 / 5
Saves: 5 / 1
Corner Kicks: 4 / 7
Fouls: 11 / 17
Offside: 3 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
CRC – Fabrizio Ramirez (caution) 47th minute
CRC – Jimmy Marin (caution) 60
Man of the Match: Nick Taitague
-U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team Match Report-
Match: U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team vs. Costa Rica
Date: Dec. 19, 2016
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Proyecto Goal; San Jose, Costa Rica
Kickoff: 10 a.m. ET (9 a.m. local)
Attendance: 200
Weather: 81 degrees; clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 0 0
CRC 0 0 0
Lineups:
USA: 1-Jonathan Klinsmann; 2-Aaron Herrera, 4-Tommy Redding (capt.) (5-Auston Trusty, 80), 15-Justen Glad, 3-Marcello Borges (14-Jake Morris, 31); 16-Eryk Williamson, 23-Tyler Adams, 8-Derrick Jones (17-Jonathan Lewis, 59); 11-Sebastian Saucedo, 9-Jeremy Ebobisse (21-Brandon Vazquez, 70), 7-Nick Taitague (10-Emmanuel Sabbi, 70)
Subs Not Used: 6-Danny Acosta, 13-Miles Robinson, 19-Victor Mansaray, 22-JT Marcinkowski
Head coach: Tab Ramos
CRC: 1-Bryan Segura (18-Eiego Rivas, 71); 4-Ian Smhit, 19-Yostin Salinas (2-Kevin Espinoza, 71), 3-Pablo Arboine (capt.), 6-Esteban Espinoza; 10-Johnatan Martinez (22-Fabrizio Ramirez, 65), 20-Eduardo Juarez (16-Bernal Alfaro, 65), 15-Daniel Villegas; 14-Roberto Cordoba (5-Juan Arguedas, 65), 9-Andy Reyes (11-Alonso Martinez, 85), 7-Kevin Masis
Subs Not Used: 8-Jimmy Marin, 12-Jeurgen Roman, 13-Fernan Faerron, 17-Javier Camareno, 21-Shuander Zuniga, 23-Greivin Marchena
Head coach: Marcelo Herrera
Stats Summary: USA / CRC
Shots: 5 / 5
Shots on Goal: 2 / 3
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 3 / 4
Fouls: 19 / 20
Offside: 2 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
CRC – Roberto Cordoba (caution) 22nd minute
USA – Tyler Adams (caution) 22
CRC – Daniel Villegas (caution) 61
USA – Jake Morris (caution) 61
CRC – Daniel Villegas (caution) 78
CRC – Daniel Villegas (sent off) 78
Man of the Match: Justen Glad
