U.S. U-18s open with win in Czech Republic

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Aug 17, 2016

The U.S. U-18 men's national team opened the Vaclav Jezek Tournament in the Czech Republic with a 3-1 win over Slovakia on Tuesday thanks to goals by Nick Taitague, Justin Rennicks and Shaft Brewer.

Taitague played four games as an amateur player for the NASL's Carolina RailHawks and recently trained at German club Schalke 04.

The U-18s, coached by Omid Namazi, play Hungary on Wednesday and Russia on Friday in group play. The USA won the tournament two years ago.

-- The U.S. U-17s rallied to beat Utah Valley University, 4-3, on Tuesday. They will also face the USL's Real Monarchs during their camp in Park City, Utah.

Aug. 16 in Rakova
U.S. U-18s 3 Slovakia U-18s 1. Goals: Taitague 25, Rennicks 38, Brewer 80; Bedats pen. 80.
USA -- Scott, Zarris, Vom Steeg, Stanley (Gruno 75), Jones, Gonzalez (Paoli 75), Pomykal, Espinoza, Dorsey, Rennicks (Carranza 82), Taitague (Brewer 64).
Slovakia -- Valach, Majdan, Filinsky, Dybala, Flak (Kozlovsky 59), Bedats, Bednar (Livora 46), Tomic (Koval 73), Spyrka, Gresak, Almasi (Martinka 46).