US Club Soccer id2 National Selection team completes four-game Argentina trip [Video]
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CHARLESTON, S.C. (Via US Club Soccer) – Highlighted by four matches against top Argentine youth academy teams, attendance at a pair of professional games and various soccer and cultural excursions, the 2015 id2 National Selection International Tour concluded this past week.
The third and final video journal from the trip, which shows the id2 National Selection’s final two games against Argentinos Juniors (March 7) and San Lorenzo de Almagro (March 9) Infantiles Categoría 2001 teams, is now available.
- Video journal #3: Footage of final two games, sight-seeing excursions, Primera División game, overall recap/reactions
- Video journal #2: Highlights from first two games, visit to Boca Juniors facilities, Copa Libertadores game
- Video journal #1: Meet the traveling party, domestic camp in Houston, first days in Argentina
The id2 National Selection team – a mix of some of the country’s best players born in 2001 or later – defeated Argentinos Juniors, 3-1, at the Argentinos Juniors Training Center. Lorenzo Lopez (Crossfire Premier SC; Oregon City, Ore.) notched a pair of first half goals. Luis Arriaga (Santa Rosa United; Santa Rosa, Calif.) assisted on the first goal and then added a goal of his own in the second half.
Two days later, the id2 National Selection took on San Lorenzo at La Ciudad Deportiva in the shadows of Estadio Pedro Bidegain. Arriaga scored his third goal of the international tour in the 23rd minute in a 1-1 result. With the tie, the id2 National Selection finished the trip with a record of 1-1-2.
The third video journal also depicts sight-seeing excursions that immersed the boys in South American culture. They were also treated to a Primera División game on March 8 between Vélez Sarsfield and Sarmiento de Junín at José Amalfitani Stadium.
“The players have so much to gain from this kind of a trip, just being in another culture and another environment; the maturity factor is tremendous,” the trip’s Head of Delegation and US Club Soccer Board of Directors member John Rennie said. “From a soccer standpoint, of course getting to play with and against outstanding players from our country and from Argentina is fantastic – and then the opportunity to be seen by not only a representative of the United States national youth program (U.S. Soccer technical advisor Juan Carlos Michia), but to be seen from the professional teams here in Argentina. It’s just a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Cole McNally (Baltimore Celtic SC; Mt. Airy, Md.) was one of two goalkeepers on the id2 National Selection team in Argentina. “This trip has ultimately taught me that without risk, there is no victory,” McNally said. “You see from teams here: the way they played well and scored goals was through taking risks. It’s fine to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them.”
“These are situations that we couldn’t replicate in our own country,” id2 National Selection coach and id2 Boys Program director Gerry McKeown said. “They were great teams; they were great clubs. The boys got a real feel for the passion this country has for the game. I think the boys learned a lot just from that, just from seeing how much the game means to each of these individuals and how much they love the sport.”
