US-Canada under 17s (R)

[Guest Jeffery S.]

3-1 States, 1-1 at the half. This report notes that the third goal was in injury time at the end. Seems that we had a chance to tie at 2 cleared off the line late 2nd half (reading the BigSoccer thread). One report here:

http://www.startribune.com/stories/503/3985942.html

Make the ball run, so you don't have to.

-Johan Cruyff

[kclee]

The report on the CSA is a little more forthcoming (perhaps from a Canadian standpoint).

USA Defeats Canada 3-1 In Minnesota

Blaine, Minnesota - Despite dominating the majority of this evening’s International Friendly against USA, Canada’s U-17 National Team dropped a 3-1 decision in front of a boisterous crowd of 10,551 at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota.

The United States opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Guillermo Gonzalez converted a penalty after US winger Corey Ashe was brought down in the Canadian area by Captain Andrew Hainault. A quickly taken free-kick at the top of the area sprung Ashe into the Canadian 18-yard box and when Hainault attempted to poke the ball free, he instead hacked down the diminutive American directly in front of referee Brian Hall. Gonzalez side-footed his spot-kick to the left of the Canadian goal while ‘keeper Rob Giacomi sailed the opposite way.

Just when the half looked destined to end, the Canadians equalised. Tyler Rosenlund slipped past one defender at the top left corner of the American penalty area then slid a ball behind the US backline for Derek Rios. Rios coolly slotted his effort past an onrushing Quentin Westburg in the US goal and the game was again level.

The Canadians seemed energised by the break and began to take the game to their hosts. First it was BC striker Cam Wilson who received a nifty flick from Andrea Lombardo then skipped by two defenders and found himself alone at the top of the US penalty area. Wilson’s attempted shot sliced off the side of his boot however and sailed harmlessly over the US net.

Ten minutes later Wilson would again cause problems for the US defenders. Wilson gathered a ball at midfield then sped along the right flank. He calmly waited for support then picked out an unmarked Vince Stewart at the penalty spot. Stewart attempted to guide a shot toward goal but instead skied his effort over the USA net.

Minutes later, the USA managed to catch the Canucks on the counter-attack and grabbed an unlikely 2-1 lead. A long ball from the back found MLS-based striker Eddie Gaven deep in the right corner. Gaven’s cross sailed over the outstretched hands of goal keeper Giacomi and found an unmarked Gonzalez at the back post. Gonzalez took the cross on the volley and easily converted his second goal of the game.

The Canadian’s again searched for an equaliser but could not beat substitute US keeper Phil Marfuggi. Canadian defender David Edgar would come closest though after his header off a Marcel De Jong corner seemed destined for the far corner but a recovering US defender managed to clear the ball off the line. The Canadians claimed that the US defender used his arm to keep the ball out of the goal but referee Hall waived off their protests. The US quickly sent the ball down the field and into the Canadian penalty box. Canadian defender Myles Davis seemed to have dealt with the US raid but was bundled over from behind by a US attacker who quickly crossed for an unmarked Freddy Adu who tapped in from 6 yards out. Again the Canadians protested to Hall but to no avail.

Hall immediately blew his whistle for full-time amidst a shower of protests from the Canadian bench.

“You actually had to be there to believe it (the final score),” said Canadian Head Coach Stephen Hart. “We had a quality US side on the back foot for the majority of the second half but just couldn’t put them away. We definitely deserved better tonight.”

[An Observer]

If you look at the game summary, we had 16 shots to their 12 plus 10 corners to their 3....

Sounds like we must have had alot of the play.

We are also missing one of our best players from the qualifiers in Jamie Peters....

Add these kids to the 85s with Ledgerwood, Lindley, Gzaki (sp?), Lali, Sheppherd and add in De Guzman's brother and I think we have a pretty good next U-20 side.