Tuesday: Zelalem debuts for USA in U-20 tuneup win

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, May 19, 2015

The USA rallied to beat host Australia, 2-1, on Tuesday in a U-20 World Cup tuneup at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford. Joel Sonora (on a shot from 20 yards) and Maki Tall scored a minute apart for the comeback win over the Young Socceroos. Arsenal's Gedion Zelalem had entered the game a minute earlier.

Melbourne City midfielder Stefan Mauk had given the Australians the lead in the 15th minute. San Jose Earthquakes forward Tommy Thompson had hit the right post and left post on separate plays before the USA took command of the game on the hour.

Five players joined the U.S. U-20s are being held back for action with their clubs last weekend. Kellyn Acosta of FC Dallas was the only one of them who played on Tuesday.

Unlike the USA, Australia is not headed to the U-20 World Cup that begins on May 30 in New Zealand. It failed to qualify for only the second time since 1989.

May 19 in Gosford
Australia 1 USA 2. Goals: Maul 15; Sonora 59, Tall 60.
Australia -- Holmes, Galloway, Rose, Youlley, Borrello, Sotirto, Mabil, Mauk, Deng, Woodcock, Aspropotamitis.
USA -- Steffen, Moore (Acosta 59), Carter-Vickers, Miazga, Payne (Requejo 74), Delgado, Sonora, Arriola (Zelalem 59), Hyndman, Thompson, Tall.