USA U17s

[Ricochet]

http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullsto...&iCategoryID=0

U.S. Under-17 Men' National Team Ties Nigeria 1-1 in Final World Championship Preparation Match in England

8/9/03 3:05 PM


MANCHESTER, England (August 9, 2003) - In the team’s last match before the 2003 FIFA Under-17 World Championship in Finland, the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team tied Nigeria 1-1 this afternoon at Carrington Training Center in Manchester, England. The U.S. will leave tomorrow (August 10) for Lahti, Finland, the location for all three of the team’s first round games.


Nigeria struck first in the 25th minute, but the U.S. found the equalizer four minutes before the half as John DiRaimondo jumped on a loose ball in the penalty area and blasted it into the upper right of the goal. The two teams were evenly matched, as both sides were able to push forward for a number of good looks on net. Both the U.S. and Nigeria each finished with 14 shots on goal.

The U.S. played without regular starters Freddy Adu and Corey Ashe, both of who are nursing injuries from the team’s last game against Manchester United. The decision to not play the starters was a precautionary move and both will be able to play in the first game against South Korea in the World Championship.

The U.S. had the first scoring opportunity in the 8th minute as forward Jamie Watson just missed from 22 yards out after a nice overhead pass from midfielder Guillermo Gonzalez. Watson let the ball bounce in front of him and then hit a one-timer that dipped just over the crossbar.

Three minutes later, U.S. ‘keeper Phil Marfuggi got his first test of the day, diving to his right to knock away a drive from Awwalu Aminu from 20 yards out. Throughout the match, Marfuggi was able to come up with big saves and finished with five on the day.


The U.S. kept the pressure on Nigeria’s backline and Watson had a similar opportunity as before, this time getting the feed from Brian Grazier. Watson’s ran onto the ball, but his low strike went barely wide of the left post.

After a few more opportunities by both teams that either went wide or were easily collected by the ‘keepers, Nigeria got on the board with a quick strike that started from the backline. A long ball was sent in from back and headed forward to Promise Issac, who looked to be in an offside position. No call was made and Issac accelerated toward the ball, dribbling forward into the box ahead of the U.S. defense and slipped it past Marfuggi.

The U.S. continued to pepper the Nigerian goal, finally getting the equalizer from DiRaimondo in the 39th minute. Eddie Gaven gave a through ball to Watson, who collected the ball around the 18-yard line and took a quick shot. His shot deflected off the two defenders in front of him and kicked just to the left. DiRaimondo ran onto the ball, pushed it left around a sliding defender and crushed the 14-yard shot into the upper right side of the goal.

Four minutes into the second half, Nigeria almost capitalized on fluke goal as Chinedu Ogbuke hit the crossbar. Ezekial Bala had gotten behind the U.S. defense and rushed in on goal, but Julian Valentin was able to get back and knock the ball clear. Ogbuke collected the ball, raced up the right side of the penalty area and sent in a cross that floated toward the goal and hit the crossbar.

In the 15th minute, the U.S. and Nigeria both got their best chances of the second half in a flurry of action on goal. The U.S. pressured first starting the attack from a long ball delivered from left midfield by Kyle Helton. Gonzalez made a nice one touch ahead to a streaking Watson, who ran onto the ball and had just the keeper, Ambruse Vanzekin, to beat. Vanzekin made a great save and knocked the ball back out towards the 18-yard line. Watson chased the ball down with Vanzekin on his heels and played the ball ahead to Gonzalez on the left side of the penalty area. With Vanzekin out of position Gonzalez ripped a shot, but it was deflected away by a defender.

Directly after the U.S. onslaught, Nigeria caught the U.S. in a quick counter attack as a long ball was sent overhead to a streaking Bala. Already behind the U.S. backline, Bala took the ball to the right side of the penalty box and ripped a shot, but Marfuggi was able to collect the shot without too much trouble.

[Frank Cunha]

FIFA U17 World Championship

Group A
Date Venue Match Result
13.08.2003
17:30 Helsinki Finland - China

13.08.2003
20:00 Helsinki Mexico - Colombia

16.08.2003
15:00 Helsinki China PR - Colombia

16.08.2003
17:30 Helsinki Finland - Mexico

19.08.2003
17:30 Helsinki China PR - Mexico

19.08.2003
20:00 Helsinki Colombia - Finland

B
13.08.2003
17:30 Turku Argentina - Australia

13.08.2003
20:00 Turku Costa Rica - Nigeria

16.08.2003
15:00 Turku Australia - Nigeria

16.08.2003
17:30 Turku Argentina - Costa Rica

19.08.2003
17:30 Turku Nigeria - Argentina

19.08.2003
20:00 Turku Australia - Costa Rica

C

14.08.2003
17:30 Tampere Yemen - Portugal

14.08.2003
20:00 Tampere Cameroon - Brazil

17.08.2003
15:00 Tampere Portugal - Brazil

17.08.2003
17:30 Tampere Yemen - Cameroon

20.08.2003
17:30 Tampere Brazil - Yemen

20.08.2003
20:00 Tampere Portugal - Cameroon

D

14.08.2003
17:30 Lahti Korea Republic - United States

14.08.2003
20:00 Lahti Spain - Sierra Leone

17.08.2003
15:00 Lahti United States - Sierra Leone

17.08.2003
17:30 Lahti Korea Republic - Spain

20.08.2003
17:30 Lahti Sierra Leone - Korea Republic

20.08.2003
20:00 Lahti

[Frank Cunha]

USA vs South Korea, the only team to beat USA 3-0

[Ricochet]

http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/lates...ws/378616.html


U.S. under-17 team plagued by injuries

HELSINKI, Finland (Aug. 13, 2003) (AP) _ Freddy Adu and two other starters for the U.S. team at the under-17 soccer world championships are hampered by injuries heading into its opening match.
Eddie Gaven and Corey Ashe also are hurt ahead of Thursday's game against South Korea in Lahti, near three ski jumping hills.

In May, the Americans lost 3-0 to the South Koreans.

The United States, which never has finished higher than fourth, will also face Spain and Sierra Leone in its preliminary group.

The U.S. squad tuned up with matches in England, and Adu, who's just 14, scored five goals in three games.

The under-17 tournament began Wednesday. Finland beat China 2-1, and Argentina defeated Australia 2-0.

[Ricochet]

US wins 3-1 Watson, Owens and Adu score

[Ricochet]

Owens own sent US down 0-1 in the 12th minute, Adu scores in the 18th to even the score. Owens goal in the 27th minute puts US in the lead for good and in the 55th minute Watson makes it 3-1.

[Ricochet]

It should read USA winning 3-1 and Owens own goal.

[Ricochet]

USA wins 6-1

Adu with a hat-trick goal in the 18th, and 2 in the 90th minute

Owen's goal in the 27th minute

Watson goal in the 55th

Curfman's in the 76th

[Ricochet]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy....g14.html<br />


Adu Scores Three Goals as U.S. Opens With 6-1 Win

By Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 14, 2003; 12:58 PM


LAHTI, Finland, Aug. 14 -- Everything about the goal was world class.



From the moment Freddy Adu collected the ball in the middle of the field, about 25 yards from the net, all eyes began gravitating his way. By the time he turned and faced the gauntlet of five defenders, Adu was almost through it.

He instantly beat two South Korea players off the dribble, then exploded from amid the pack, leaving the rest chasing aimlessly. One reached out in vain, hoping to tug Adu to the ground, but the striker was already about to fake the goaltender and slam the ball in the net. The 14-year-old soccer prodigy, by far the youngest player on the field, provided the salient moment of the day on that rush and netted three goals in all as the U.S. under-17 national team opened the world championships by pounding South Korea, 6-1, at Lahti Stadium tonight.

The U.S. badly wanted a win today to open the round-robin group stage.

It lost, 3-0, in South Korea two months ago and expected another stern challenge on a neutral field. On Sunday the teenagers face Sierra Leone -- the least heralded but most unknown team in the group -- and on Tuesday group play concludes against Spain, a traditional soccer power. Another win Sunday would virtually assure the United States of advancing to the single-elimination quarterfinals (the top two teams from all four groups reach that stage).

This tournament -- Adu's first true international test -- could not have begun better for the youngster, whose family moved from Ghana to Potomac in 1997 after winning an immigration lottery. The first two times he touched the ball today Adu deftly chipped it ahead, springing teammates for scoring chances, and even when double- or triple-teamed, Adu proved dangerous with or without the ball as scouts from the world's biggest soccer teams looked on.

"He found a way to turn the game, didn't he?" said Ray Hall, director of the youth academy at English club Everton. "I don't know how he did it, but he did. His composure was brilliant. He needs to come to a club in England to expand his development, possibly us."

Adu's skills emanated forth on this massive stage. He used his chest and thighs to coral passes with aplomb, delivered no-look, back-heel passes to surging midfielders and caught up to long through balls when it simply did not seem possible to do so. There were other standouts as well on this talented team, with Danny Szetela often setting the pace in the midfield and Corey Ashe finding space to attack from the wing.

Coach John Ellinger gambled a bit with his lineup, loading five players in the midfield and using only three defenders. South Korea pressured throughout the opening minutes and capitalized on some miscommunication for its only goal, scoring 11 minutes in. Goaltender Phil Marfuggi delayed his response to a cross from Young Chi Shin, while defender Brandon Owens converged on the same spot, inadvertently knocking the ball into his own net.

The heavy U.S. contingent in the crowd, comprised primarily of the players' family members, tried to rally their squad with chants of "USA, USA," and Adu was first to respond. His first goal shocked the South Koreans, coming five minutes after they had scored, and changed the game for good. Ten minutes later, Owens put the U.S. ahead; Shin attempted to head the ball out of the box on a corner kick and it landed at Owens' feet a few yards from the net. The rout had begun.

The South Koreans played quality soccer late in the half, hitting the post once, but were put away nine minutes into the second half. Owens sent the ball forward, looking for Adu, but it struck a Korean player and trickled ahead. U.S. forward Jamie Watson sprinted to the ball, evaded the onrushing keeper and tucked it into the near side of the net.

The Americans continued to attack despite the two-goal lead and Steve Curfman caught goalie Ki Seok Cha well out of his net on a corner kick, making the score 4-1 and Adu ended the drubbing by calmly dancing between three defenders in the penalty box, knocking the ball from one foot to the other, waiting for the goalie to commit and slipping the ball in the net in the final minute of play before capping his hat trick with a perfectly placed penalty kick just before time expired.

[Ricochet]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlin...273895&cc=5901


Americans crush South Korea

ESPN.com news services

LAHTI, Finland -- Freddy Adu, the 14-year-old soccer phenom, had a dazzling debut at the U-17 World Championships on Thursday by a scoring a hat trick to lead the United States to a 6-1 rout of South Korea.


The Ghanaian-born youngster ran rampant to lay claim to a brilliant equalizer and two more in the driving wind and rain of Lahti, Finland as the U.S got its campaign off with a bang.


Following some promising moments early on, the U.S. went down to a horrific own goal just after the ten-minute mark. A looping ball in from the right gave American defender Dwight Owens some trouble. As he tried to control the bouncing ball, it glanced wickedly off his chest and past keeper Phil Marfuggi who had come off his line to collect.

The Americans hit back straight away with consistent danger man Adu leading the charge. The youngster collected the ball 45 yards from goal, turned brilliantly and dribbled past four flat-footed Korean defenders with a stunning burst of speed. Rounding keeper Cha Ki Seok with ease, the prodigy slotted home with his left foot to send the U.S. team into wild celebrations - and surely no one was happier than unlucky Owens.

"I was actually looking around for someone to pass to," said the humble youngster with a bag of ice strapped to his ankle after the match. "No one was around, so I just decided to go for it."

Defender Owens relief was doubled only five minutes later when a corner kick from captain Corey Ashe bobbled dangerously around the box. Leaning back, the defender slammed the ball past the hapless Cha from seven yards.

"After the own goal I was feeling pretty down," commented Owens. "But my teammates kept me up and I told myself I had two choices 'either bounce back or crumble'."

Though the Koreans continued to make inroads with their direct, physical football, luck was not on their side. Lee Gang Jin saw his right-footed shot slam against Marfuggi's post just before the half.

Korea's lack of luck continued ten minutes into the second period as Lee Sang Yong beat Ashe to the byline and crossed dangerously. Marfuggi lunged and missed, but the ball slipped past the two strikers and safely out.

The Americans hit back immediately on a lightning-quick counterattack down the right. Adu was again involved as his deflected flick sent Texas native Jaime Watson clean in on goal. After rounding Cha, the spiky-haired striker slipped the ball into the back of the net.

"Watson and Adu are really beginning to develop a very good understanding," said U.S. boss John Ellinger."

Adu collected his hat trick with a coolly taken penalty in extra time.

"I was really nervous before the game," he said. "I feel I didn't have my best game. I can do a lot better. If Adu can indeed do better, Group D's Sierra Leone and Spain better watch out.

[Ricochet]

my bad should be in the thread below

[Ricochet]

Adu's hat trick leads U.S. Under-17s to 6-1 win

LAHTI, Finland (AP) -- Freddy Adu scored three goals as the United States routed South Korea 6-1 to open the Under-17 World Championships.

Adu, the 14-year-old sensation, gave the Americans a boost after they fell behind 1-0 on an own goal. He scored five minutes later with some fancy footwork before putting the ball home.

In the final minutes of the game, Adu added two more goals, finishing off his hat trick with a penalty kick.

Brandon Owens, Jamie Watson and Steve Curfman also scored for the United States, with Owens getting the go-ahead goal in the 27th minute.

The six goals were the most the U.S. team has scored in a world championship tournament, and the five-goal margin also set a national record.

The only other U.S. hat trick in the event came in 1993, by Judah Cooks against Qatar.

[MUFC]

adu he gets better and better.

[Frank Cunha]

a nice starter for the USA

[Frank Cunha]

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"He's a Houdini-type player. That's the best way to describe him."
-- U.S. U-17 forward Jamie Watson on his striking partner Freddy Adu.

"I said, 'There's no way, this is just hype.' I saw this little kid
walking up. After the first practice, I left with my jaw hanging. Now
I joke about it at practice: 'Do something I've never seen before,'
and he does something physically impossible."
-- Watson on Adu.

"After I graduate, I want to go pro as soon as I can. Graduating high
school is very important to me. My mom wouldn't let me go anywhere
until I finish high school. I think it's a good decision. Whatever my
mom says is right. I had already skipped a couple grades before I
went to Bradenton, and we take an accelerated school program in
Bradenton, so I'll graduate in late May."
-- Freddy Adu, who has scored four goals for the USA at the U-17
World Cup, in which the Americans face Brazil in the quarterfinals on
Sunday.

"Heading into the tournament there was a general sense that we'll let
the process take its time and sit back and maybe a month after the
tournament we'll start to listen to some things. That has absolutely
changed. It's a question of weeks now, not months."
-- Adu's agent Richard Motzkin on entertaining pro club offers for
the 14-year-old. (Washington Post)



1. U-17 WORLD CUP: USA faces Brazil in quarterfinals on Sunday

The United States faces Brazil Sunday in the quarterfinals of the
U-17 World Cup aiming to become the second U.S. squad in the
tournament's history to reach the semifinals.

(TV: Sunday, Aug. 24, delayed on Galavision, East Feed 11 am ET/West
Feed, cable only, 11 am PT. West Coast small-dish subscribers receive
East Feed, 8 am PT).

The United States, the only nation to play in all 10 U-17 World Cups,
reached the semifinals in 1999, when Landon Donovan and DaMarcus
Beasley won the Golden Ball and Silver Ball, respectively. Australia
beat the Americans on penalty kicks in the semi and they lost to
Ghana in the third-place game.

The Americans reached the second round on two other occasions, losing
in the quarterfinals in 1991 and 1993.

Coach John Ellinger, who was also in charge in 1999 and 2001, was
asked to compare this year's team with his previous squads:

"It's not an easy question. There has been some great individual
talent on all three teams. If you look at the roster in 1999, almost
all of the starters are playing professionally, with the exception of
one or two players.

"With the second group, you have seven players who, within a couple
of months after the event was over, were all playing professionally
-- guys like Eddie Johnson and Santino Quaranta, even one of the
reserves, David Johnson, who is playing for Willem II in Holland.

"Even on this team, we have three players who have signed pro
contracts, and I suspect one more pretty soon. Talent-wise, I think
the players always get better. Tactically we need to get sharper, but
I think the rest of the world is moving along at the same pace.

"Technically, every group has been better than the one before it. I'm
just extremely excited because in all my years as a coach, I have
never been able to get to the second round after two games."

The United States has faced Brazil twice at a U-17 World Cup. In
1989, the Americans notched a historic 1-0 win over the Brazilians on
a goal by Imad Baba. The team included current U.S. national team
captain Claudio Reyna.

In 1997, the Brazilians defeated the United States, 3-0, in first-round play.

In the first round of this year's tournament, Brazil tied Cameroon,
1-1, beat Portugal, 5-0, and beat Yemen, 3-0.

"I know nothing about Brazil right now," said U.S. forward Freddy
Adu, who has notched four goals at this year's U-17 World Cup. "We've
seen a couple of their games on TV. You can't really judge the way
they play based on what you see on TV, because in Guatemala [d