U.S. U-20 men finish sixth in Serbia

• by Mike Woitalla  @MikeWoitalla, Sep 8, 2015

In its first competition of a new cycle, the U-20 men’s national team -- comprised of 1997-born 17- and 18-year-olds – finished in sixth place at the Serbia-hosted Stevan Vilotic-Cele Tournament thanks to a 2-0 win over Israel in a placement game following losses to France (6-1) and host Serbia (3-1) in group play.

Real Salt Lake’s Sebastian Saucedo scored the USA’s only goal from the run of play, the Americans’ second against Israel after they took the lead through an own goal. Kyle Scott, who plays for Chelsea’s U-21, scored from the penalty spot in the loss to France.

The team was captained by Erik Palmer-Brown, the lone player on the roster from Coach Tab Ramos’ squad that reached the quarterfinals of the 2015 U-20 World Cup last June, when the USA fell on penalty kicks after a scoreless tie to eventual champion Serbia.

Sept. 7 in Backa Topola, Serbia
USA 2 Israel 0. Goals: own goal 4, Saucedo 39.
USA -- Vom Steeg; Murphy, Palmer-Brown (Lombard, 27), Glad, Hinds; Scott (Popovic, 68), Lindley, Salas Jr. (Lucatero, 45), Sabbi (Bashti, 78); Saucedo (Fernandez, 88), Mansaray.
Israel -- Hlon; Gamoun, Isakov, Nachmias, Shoolmaiste; Marom, Welblum (Dayan Roy, 82), Yerushalmi (Idan, 40); Zanati (Joseph, 74), Yzhak (Hershkovich, 63), Dor (Shechter, 63).

Sept. 4 in Senta, Serbia
France 6 USA 1. Goals: Jamrozik 8 Puel (Lusamba) 12, Aye  19, Aye (Poha) 45 +1, Augustin (Kwateng) 83, Aye (Sylla) 88; Sabbi (Mansaray) 91+.
France -- Bernardoni; Kwateng, Dipo, Onguene, 3- Boscagli (Hernandez, 45); Bennacer (Chendri, 76), Lusamba, Poha (Sissoko, 77); Jamrozik (Tormin, 83), Aye, Augustin (Sylla, 84).
USA -- Herrera; Glad, Palmer-Brown, Pineda, Pelaez; Obinwa (Sabbi, 32), Murphy (Swanson, 74); Lucatero (Bashti, 32), Saucedo, Fernandez (Salas, Jr., 70); Mansary.

Sept. 3 in Subotica, Serbia
Serbia 3 USA 1. Goals: Jovic (Spoljaric) 21, Saponjic 67, Saponjic 78; Scott (pen.) 70.
Serbia -- Nikolic; Mijailovic, Stojanovic, Zlatkovic (Stankovic, 52), Gudelj (Sarenac, 68); Senic (Lutovac, 68), Glavcic, Spoljaric (Jankovic, 48), Zlicic (Karisic, 69); Jovic (Jovanovic, 83), Saponjic (Duronjic, 83).
USA -- Vom Steeg; Duncan (Lombard, 45), Palmer-Brown (Pineda, 45), Onalfo, Hinds (Murphy, 62); Lindley, Salas Jr., Swanson (Obinwa, 63), Scott; 9- Sabbi (Mansaray, 45), Popovic (Saucedo, 73).