U.S. U-18s split openers at Copa Chivas

• by Mike Woitalla  @MikeWoitalla, Feb 2, 2015

The U.S. U-18 men's national team fell, 1-0, to Brazil's Cruzeiro after opening its Copa Chivas campaign in Guadalajara with a 1-0 win over Mexico’s Morelia on a goal by Mauricio Pineda, who in December scored twice against Germany.

Pineda, who plays for the Chicago Fire’s academy, scored the gamewinner on Friday against Morelia off a free kick rebound in the sixth minute. The defender hit the net in a 2-1 win and a 3-2 loss against Germany’s U-18s in December.

The Javier Perez-coached U.S. team fell to Cruzeiro on a 58th minute goal on Saturday while being out shot 14-1. Next up is Club Tijuana on Monday and Chile’s Universidad Catolica on Tuesday.

The U-18 MNT faces Club Tijuana on Monday and Chile's Universidad Catolica on Tuesday.

Jan. 31 in Guadalajara.
USA 0 Cruzeiro 1. Goal: Alexander Da Silva 57.
USA -- Vom Steeg, Mason, M.Pineda, Burns, Jones, Boakye (Murphy, 60), Waldrep (Wilson, 60), A. Pineda (Yueill, 47); Sabbi (Williamson, 50), Saucedo (Mansaray, 47), Lennon.

Jan. 30 in Guadalajara
USA 1, Morelia 0. Goal: M.Pineda 6.
USA -- Klinsmann, Duncan, M.Pineda, Burns, Pelaez, Murphy (A.Pineda, 46), Wilson, Williamson, Yueill, Mansaray (Saucedo, 35), Elney (Lennon, 35).