harrycoyster Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 The tournament kicked off an hour ago with Mexico v Honduras and USA v Canada. This can easily be considered the best u15 Canada has had in a few cycles. Roster: http://canadasoccer.com/index.php?t=project&sid=1211 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badname22 Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Canada loses 2-0 to the US Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycoyster Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 Ivan Hirankunda made a number of saves to keep the boys in it, Rafael Pinzon is an absolute force, and Jayden Nelson clearly has MLS starter potential, but in the end the defense just wasn't good enough...as has been the Achilles' heel of our youth teams for years now. Because only one team advances from each group, the u15s will need to beat Costa Rica and T&T while hoping the US drops points to advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Why do they have the best 8 teams in two groups and then all of the minnows in the other 8. That is just an awful format for a tournament Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 1 hour ago, harrycoyster said: The tournament kicked off an hour ago with Mexico v Honduras and USA v Canada. This can easily be considered the best u15 Canada has had in a few cycles. Roster: http://canadasoccer.com/index.php?t=project&sid=1211 Thanks harrycoyster. You seem connected so I am curious why you think this is the best U15 team in years. Has Pinzon lived most of his life here or in Mexico? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycoyster Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 7 minutes ago, canta15 said: Why do they have the best 8 teams in two groups and then all of the minnows in the other 8. That is just an awful format for a tournament Below the u17 level CONCACAF uses a tiered grouping system. The best 8 teams go into groups 1 and 2, next 8 into groups 3 and 44, and so on. They do that so that there aren't as many blowouts which are developmentally useless for 15 year old kids. I actually prefer getting our u15s matches against the US, Costa Rica, and T&T even if we don't advance over having a group of Bermuda, Guadeloupe and Montserrat then drawing a competitive team in the knockout stage. I just wish more than one team advanced from the top groups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycoyster Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 22 minutes ago, Ivan said: Thanks harrycoyster. You seem connected so I am curious why you think this is the best U15 team in years. Has Pinzon lived most of his life here or in Mexico? I've talked to people who know a lot more about our youth programs than me that have told me this group can be special. Most technically gifted group in recent memory. It's too early to project anything definitively about pro careers, but this team should be able to compete with the US and Mexico at most positions during the 2018-2019 u17 cycle. The defense is concerning however. Pinzon was born in Mexico and moved to Ontario at 9 after a period in Brazil. Played at a number of clubs in Ontario and was noticed by Mexican scouts at a youth tournament last year. He's moved to Pachuca earlier in 2017 and was invited to a Mexican u15 identification camp this summer. He has as good a shot on him as you'll find in a u15 player and can beat players with skill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stryker911 Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 I think one of the best things about the team is the breakdown: 5 from TFC 4 from Montreal 2 from Vancouver 7 from other programs. At least they looked at some other places than just TFC academy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycoyster Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 31 minutes ago, Stryker911 said: I think one of the best things about the team is the breakdown: 5 from TFC 4 from Montreal 2 from Vancouver 7 from other programs. At least they looked at some other places than just TFC academy. 5 non-MLS kids on the field for the second half, which was a 0-0 half. Pretty impressive considering the US team was basically a USSDA all-star team. Though it should probably be said that the USA's team would have been significantly stronger had they called in their players playing aboard like we did with Pinzon. The US has a kid named Josh Pynadath, who wears the number 10 for the Ajax u16s (playing up a year). He's...scary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saladroit Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 17 minutes ago, harrycoyster said: 5 non-MLS kids on the field for the second half, which was a 0-0 half. Pretty impressive considering the US team was basically a USSDA all-star team. Though it should probably be said that the USA's team would have been significantly stronger had they called in their players playing aboard like we did with Pinzon. The US has a kid named Josh Pynadath, who wears the number 10 for the Ajax u16s (playing up a year). He's...scary. Just watched the highlights. Usually I don't read into highlights too much, but it's insane that a kid can do what that kid's doing at 15 years old playing against kids older than him. Wow. When did he join Ajax? (was he primarily developed at Ajax or in the US?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycoyster Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 4 minutes ago, saladroit said: Just watched the highlights. Usually I don't read into highlights too much, but it's insane that a kid can do what that kid's doing at 15 years old playing against kids older than him. Wow. When did he join Ajax? (was he primarily developed at Ajax or in the US?) Don't know all that much about him besides that he moved from a USSDA team in San Diego to Real Madrid's academy in 2015, but was forced to leave due to issues Real had with FIFA laws regarding the signing youth players. Moved to Ajax where he is the wonderkid amoungst wonderkids. Only eligible for the US and India so the US doesn't even have to worry about a second nationality. He's allowed to be in Europe because his dad has residency in France or something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackjack15 Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Their next match is against Costa Rica Tomorrow at 11:00 PM ET Local time I love how CONCACAF Decided to host The U-15 Championship in IMG Academy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycoyster Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 12 minutes ago, Blackjack15 said: Their next match is against Costa Rica Tomorrow at 11:00 PM ET Local time I love how CONCACAF Decided to host The U-15 Championship in IMG Academy! IMG Academy is actually hosting the tournament free of charge and is having free coaching lessons so that all of the countries' u15 coaches can get US coaching licenses. As I understand it CONCACAF is only paying for travel. This tournament actually hasn't been held since 2007 due to lack of funding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazlo_80 Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Thanks for all the insight into this. Really interesting to see. That kid playing with pachuca is super intriguing. Great to see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soccerpro Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 9 hours ago, harrycoyster said: Ivan Hirankunda made a number of saves to keep the boys in it, Rafael Pinzon is an absolute force, and Jayden Nelson clearly has MLS starter potential, but in the end the defense just wasn't good enough...as has been the Achilles' heel of our youth teams for years now. Because only one team advances from each group, the u15s will need to beat Costa Rica and T&T while hoping the US drops points to advance. Our youth nationals teams have had below average defenders, along with some average or above average attackers in recent cycles. In addition, our young defenders, especially CBs, find it tough going to get a chance in MLS relative to attackers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycoyster Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 50 minutes ago, Soccerpro said: In addition, our young defenders, especially CBs, find it tough going to get a chance in MLS relative to attackers. That's likely just a result of the level of defensive talent that we are producing. I don't think MLS GMs discriminate against Canadian CBs specifically. Our CBs are behind American and Central American CBs even at the u15 age group, and the gap only widens as you move up age groups. No idea why it's happening, no idea how to fix it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackjack15 Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 8 hours ago, saladroit said: Just watched the highlights. Link? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycoyster Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 The US beat T&T 6-0 today. Which is less than ideal for our u15s. We need to beat Costa Rica, beat T&T, have the US lose to Costa Rica, and overcome a -8 goal difference to advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 Do you know the Costa Rica vs. T & T score? Is there a link to the tournament standings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycoyster Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 11 minutes ago, Ivan said: Do you know the Costa Rica vs. T & T score? Is there a link to the tournament standings? Costa Rica beat T&T 4-0. CONCACAF isn't updating the standings for whatever reason, but our group is: USA: 2-0-0 +8 6pts Costa Rica: 1-0-0 +4 3pts Canada: 0-0-1 -2 0pts T&T: 0-0-2 -10 0pts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maccaliam Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 According to the Canada Soccer Twitter account, we're doing quite well today versus Costa Rica. GOAL! #canm15 Malik Henry gives Canada the 1-0 lead in the second half after a great pass from Ralph Priso-Mbongue. GOAL!! #canm15 Canada makes it 2-0 as Matthew Radivojsa scores for Canada! GOAL!!! Canada makes it 3-0 as sub Sean Rea scores shortly after entering the match! Rea scores after the pass from Jérémie Omeonga Nkoy. EDIT: looks like it's ended that way. Good result. FINAL: Canada wins 3-0 over Costa Rica at the CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship. Goals by Malik Henry, Matthew Radivojsa & Sean Rea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkuseisLoose Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 i'm guessing none of this is on tv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 From CSA Twitter, all 3 goals scored after Pinzon came off. Seemed he and Nelson were quite dangerous (post, big save by CR keeper) while they were on though. Again, only gleaned from CSA Twitter. Good result. Nice to get a clean sheet from our maligned defence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycoyster Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 Great result from the boys. It looks like Costa Rica played 8 different players from their game against T&T yesterday. I don't know enough about their team to say which was the stronger 11. We now need Costa Rica to beat the US and for us to beat T&T while making up a -7 goal difference to advance. Possible, but unlikely that Costa Rica beats the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycoyster Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 It appears that the tournament rules posted by US Soccer were wrong/based on a wrong Wikipedia entry, and that the 1st place finishers will play the second place finishers before moving on to the final instead of just playing a 3rd place game. Rules: http://www.concacaf.com/competitions/under-15s-menregulations This means that we might actually want the US to win tomorrow. As it guarantees us second place with a win against lowly T&T and a semifinal match with Mexico. If Costa Rica beats the US and we don't overcome the goal differential with the US or the -2 differential with Costa Rica, we don't advance at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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