U.S. under-17 boys national team goes on club tour

• by Soccer America , Sep 17, 2008

The U.S. under-17 boys national team opened a nine-city tour against U.S. Soccer Development Academy opponents with a 2-0 win (goals by Victor Pineda and Charles Renken) and 3-3 tie (two goals by Jack McInerney and one by Luis Gil) against Chivas USA youth teams in the U-15/16 and U-17/18 age groups.

The exhibition matches, along with several international training camps and games, will be used to prepare the U-17s as they attempt to qualify for their 14th consecutive Under-17 World Cup. Qualifying will take place in April or May, 2009 when the qualifying tournament will be held in Mexico.

"We didn't want to limit ourselves to just playing against one conference," said U.S. U-17 boys national team coach Wilmer Cabrera. "We want to play with the teams from all over the country and to travel all over the country to compete and play in different scenarios, in different cities. These games are definitely going to help us prepare for qualifying because we are playing on the road, so we'll have the pressure of playing away, which is a good environment."

U.S. U-17 TOUR
Sept. 20 Nomads FC
Oct. 4 Sockers FC
Oct. 11 Richmond Strikers
Nov. 1 Miami FC Kendall
Nov. 15 CASL
Nov. 29 LAFC
May 2 Chicago Fire
May 16 New York Red Bulls