Under-18 Men’s National Team defeats Feyenoord Academy 2-0, faces the Netherlands on Tuesday

The U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team benefited from two goals separated by four minutes in the second half to earn a 2-0 win against Dutch club Feyenoord Rotterdam’s U-19 team on Saturday.

A pair of players signed to professional contracts with Major League Soccer provided the difference for the U-18 MNT as halftime substitute Zach Pfeffer and Kellyn Acosta scored for the U.S.

Pfeffer, who plays for the Philadelphia Union, opened the scoring in the 69^th minute after taking possession near the center of the field. After having a few touches on the ball, Pfeffer unleashed a strike from 30 yards out that deflected off of a Feyenoord defender and beat the goalkeeper to the left corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead.

In the 73^rd minute, FC Dallas homegrown player Acosta doubled the lead after using his speed to track down a cross along the right side. Taking the ball in stride, Acosta ripped a hard shot that took a deflection in the goal box and found the back of the net to make the score 2-0 in favor of the U.S.

The U.S., which outshot Feyenoord 15-10, including 8-5 on frame, now prepares for an international friendly against the Netherlands on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 12 p.m. ET.

Halftime substitute Piakai Henkel was sent off for the U.S. after receiving his second yellow card of the game in the 89^th minute.

Midfielder Kosta Koukladas was recently added to the U.S. U-18 MNT roster and will be with the team until Sept. 13. Koukladas has appeared in four matches for the U-19 side of German club Rot-Weiss Essen this season, scoring one goal.

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

Match: U.S. U-18 MNT vs. Feyenoord U-19
Date: Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012
Competition: Friendly
Venue: Feyenoord Youth Academy; Rotterdam, Netherlands
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m. ET)
Attendance: 200
Weather: 72 degrees, sunny

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

USA – Zach Pfeffer                           69^th minute
USA – Kellyn Acosta                         73

Lineups:
USA: 1-Zack Steffen (12-Ethan Horvath, 46); 3-Dylan Greenberg (13-Suliaman Dainkeh, 46), 5-Michael Amick, 4-Trevor Haberkorn (14-Jalen Markey, 46), 2-Jordan Allen; 6-Kellyn Acosta, 8-Kristian Scott (16-Jacori Hayes, 46), 7-Paul Arriola (17-Zach Pfeffer, 46); 11-Julian Green (9-Benjamin Lopez, 46), 10-Romain Gall (15-Piakai Henkel, 46), 19-Ben Spencer (18-Travis Wannemuehler, 46)
Subs not used: None
Head Coach: Javier Perez

FYN: 1-Michel Franken (18-Daniel Furtado Oliveira, 46); 5-Kevin Gomez, 3-Suen Beek (14-Vincent Jansen, 46), 4-Rick Dekker, 2-Dalian Maatsen (12-Rodney Lopes Cabral, 46); 8-Brandon Tichem, 10-Joey Sleegers (17-Casper Knoester, 46), 6-Kevin Derks (15-Brain Thong, 46); 11-Robbert Olijfuelo, 9-Rick Kasdorp, 7-Kenske Taoa
Subs not used: 16-Camiel Miazk
Head Coach: Damien Duke

Stats Summary: USA / FYN
Shots: 15 / 10
Shots on Goal: 8 / 5
Saves: 5 / 6
Corner Kicks: 4 / 3
Fouls: 8 / 10
Offside: 4 / 3

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Piakai Henkel              (caution)                      56^th minute
USA – Jordan Allen               (caution)                      62
USA – Piakai Henkel              (ejection)                     89