By Mike Woitalla
A 4-0 loss to Japan at 2017 Vaclav Jezek Tournament in the Czech Republic marked the U.S. U-17 boys national team’s worst loss since falling, 4-0, to Mexicoin a friendly in Panama in February of 2013.
The USA, which opened the Jezek Tournament with wins over Hungary (4-1) and Russia (3-1), beat Iceland, 4-0, in the third-place game while Japan beat host Czech Republic, 4-2, in the final.
Coach John Hackworth’s team is preparing forthe 2017 U-17 World Cup in India (Oct. 6-28). It had qualified by finishing second at the Concacaf U-17 Championship, where it fell to Mexico on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie in the final. The USA hadbeaten Mexico, 4-3, in group play. In 48 games since the current cycle started in late 2015, the U.S. U-17s have lost only six games against national teams.
Japan, which in group play alsobeat Russia (1-0) and Hungary (5-2), and the USA were only teams at the tournament that had qualified for the 2017 U-17 World Cup. Against the USA, Japan took a 1-0 lead into halftime thanks to 27thminute on a goal by Keito Nakamura. Taisei Miyashiro’s goals in the 49th and 88th minutes sandwiched a 81st-minute strike from Koki Saito.
The USA faces host India, Colombia and Ghana in Group A at the U-17 World Cup.
Jezek Placement Games
Final
Japan 4 Czech Republic 2
Third place
USA 4 Iceland 0
Fifth place
Ukraine 4 Russia 1
Seventh place
Hungary 4 Slovakia 0
U.S. U-17 boys roster:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Carlos Joaquim Dos Santos (Benfica/POR), Justin Garces (Atlanta United academy).
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Asensio (Atlanta United academy), Christopher Gloster (NewYork Red Bulls academy), Jaylin Lindsey (Sporting KC academy), James Sands (New York City FC), Tyler Shaver (New York City FC academy), Arturo Vasquez (FC Golden State), Akil Watts (Portland Timbersacademy).
MIDFIELDERS (7): George Acosta (North Carolina FC academy), Taylor Booth (Real Salt Lake academy), Christopher Durkin (D.C. United), Blaine Ferri (Solar Chelsea SC), ChrisGoslin (Atlanta United), Alex Mendez (LA Galaxy academy), Indiana Vassilev (Unattached).
FORWARDS (6): Andrew Carleton (Atlanta United), Ulysses Llanez (LA Galaxy academy), AlejandroPereira (Orlando City academy), Jacobo Reyes (Monterrey/MEX), Josh Sargent (Scott Gallagher Missouri), Timothy Weah (Paris SG/FRA).
U.S. U-17 girls rout England twice
The U.S. U-17 girls national team, coached by Mark Carr, beatEngland twice in Oregon, 6-1 and 6-2. Nine players scored for the USA in the two games.
FC Dallas’ Diana Ordonez and Payton Linnehan of FC Stars of Massscored twice each in the 6-2 victory. Isabella D’Aquila of So Cal Blues scored a goal in both games.
“It was a good week of learning and improvement in Portland,” saidCarr. “I feel like we are in a good place with our team. … We don’t have a camp in September so the players will get some quality time with their club teams and can focus onimproving and continuing to prepare themselves for our October camp.
“With the World Cup Qualifying tournament set for the end of April in 2018, we now have a solidified target and I know theplayers will be motivated and committed to constantly improving themselves.”
Aug. 26 in Portland, Oregon
USA 6 England 2.
Goals: Ordonez (Fontes) 4, Fontes 20, Linnehan (Doms) 24, Linnehan (Fontes) 29, Ordonez (Fontes) 33, D’Aquila (Bethune) 86; Salmon (Pike) 50, Salmon 70.
USA — Romig; Morris, Hansen, Agresti (Scarpelli, 46), Bebar (Godfrey, 46), Fishel (Bethune, 59), Romig, Fontes (Rodman, 68), Doms, DellaPeruta (Payne, 68), Linnehan (Pierce, 46),Ordonez (D’Aquila, 59).
England — Bentley (Orman, 80), Hartley, Jhamat, James, Park (Pike, 46), Roberts (Roberts, 66), Kuyken (Brown, 46), Ale, Williams (Woolley, 66),Smith (Salmon, 46), Griffin
Aug. 23 in Beaverton, Oregon
USA 6 England 1.
Goals: Fishel(Bethune) 11, Ahmadian (Linnehan) 19, Morris (Staude) 44, Godfrey 63, D’Aquila (Doms) 89, Agresti (D’Aquila) 74; Smith 80.
USA — Anderson, Morris, Agresti,Fishel (Agresti, 46), Bethune (Doms, 59), Fontes, Staude, Dellaperuta (Fontes, 59), Linnehan (Rodman, 73), Ahmadian (D’Aquila, 73), Glenn (Bebar, 32).
England —Stenson, Griffen, James, Vassell (Williams, 64), Woodley, Roberts, Salmon, Kuyken, Roberts, Pike.
U.S. U-17 girls national team
GOALKEEPERS (3): Angelina Anderson (Mustang SC; Danville, Calif.), Ryan Campbell (So Cal Blues; Dana Point, Calif.), Lindsey Romig (Richmond United; Midlothian, Va.).
DEFENDERS (7): Michela Agresti (FC Stars of Mass.; Swampscott, Mass.), Talia DellaPeruta (Tophat SC; Cumming, Ga.), Tori Hansen (CASL; Raleigh, N.C.), Makenna Morris (Bethesda SC;Germantown, Md.), Nicole Payne (Concord; Birmingham, Ala.), Natalia Staude (Tophat SC; Atlanta, Ga.), Leah Scarpelli (Cedar Stars; Brick, N.J.).
MIDFIELDERS (7): Hanna Bebar(Eclipse Select; Naperville, Ill.), Croix Bethune (Concord Fire SC; Alpharetta, Ga.), Maya Doms (Davis Legacy; Davis, Calif.), Mia Fishel (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Eleanor Glenn (Tophat SC;Avondale Estates, Ga.), Sophia Jones (San Jose Earthquakes; Menlo Park, Calif.), Margaret Pierce (CASL; Cary, N.C.).
FORWARDS (7): Ainsley Ahmadian (Eclipse Select; Naperville,Ill.), Isabella D’Aquila (So Cal Blues; Mission Viejo, Calif.), Sunshine Fontes (Hawaii Rush; Wahiawa, Hawaii), Lia Godfrey (JFC Storm; Fleming Island, Fla.), Payton Linnehan (FC Stars of Mass.;Douglas, Mass.), Diana Ordonez (FC Dallas; Prosper, Texas), Trinity Rodman (So Cal Blues; Newport Beach, Calif.).
Coach Kacey White has named a 20-player U.S. U-16 girls national teamsquad for a Sept. 6-15 training camp in Germany that will include two games. White’s team will play Germany’s U-16s twice, Sept. 12 and 14. Of the 20 players, 17 were born in 2002, two in 2003and one in 2004. They are all age-eligible for the 2018 U-17 Women’s World Cup, which is for players born in 2001 or later. But this group’s main aim is to become the core the team thatwill attempt to qualify for 2022 U-20 Women’s World Cup.
U.S. U-16 girls national team
GOALKEEPERS(2): Leah Freeman (Mustang; Berkeley, Calif.), Mia Justus (Sky Blue-PDA; North Brunswick, N.J.).
DEFENDERS (6): Kayla Colbert (Legends FC; Rancho Cucamonga,Calif.), Caroline Gray (Concorde Fire; Johns Creek, Ga.), Katherine Groff (NC Courage; Raleigh, N.C.), Samar Guidry (FC Dallas; McKinney, Texas), Makenna Morris (Bethesda SC; Germantown, Md.), SmithHunter (Reign Academy; Seattle, Wash.).
MIDFIELDERS (7): Aislynn Crowder (Hawaii Rush; Mililani, Hawaii), Devi Dudley (La Roca Futbol Club; American Fork, Utah), Tatiana Fung(LAFC Slammers; Fullerton, Calif.), Maggie Graham (NTH Tophat; Atlanta, Ga.), Samantha Kroeger (World Class FC; West Milford, N.J.), Michaela Rosenbaum (Santa Rosa United; Santa Rosa, Calif.), AllysonSentnor (South Shore Select; Hanson, Mass.).
FORWARDS (5): Michelle Cooper (Michigan Hawks; Canton, Mich.), Talia DellaPeruta (NTH Tophat; Cumming, Ga.), Dilary Heredia-Beltran(Sporting Blue Valley; Overland Park, Kansas), Trinity Rodman (So Cal Blues; Newport Beach, Calif.), Reilyn Turner (So Cal Blues; Aliso Viejo, Calif.).
Girls DA adds three more Technical advisors
U.S. Soccer has added MargueriteFerrell, Vicki Linton and Megan McCormick to complete its team of Technical Advisors for the U.S. Soccer Girls’ Development Academy, whose inauguralseason launches next weekend with 69 clubs.
Girls’ Development Technical Advisors
Morgan Church (Southeast)
Katie Cole (Frontier)
Diane Drake (Atlantic)
Jen Lalor (Southwest)
Marieke Laurens-van Tienhoven (Southwest)
Zahra Lechak (Northwest)
Megan McCormick (Northwest)
Marguerite Ferrell (Northeast)
Vicki Linton (Mid-America)
• Ferrell most recentlyserved as Senior Manager of Coach Recruitment and Education at New York Red Bulls, where she managed 171 part-time coaches. She has also been as an assistant women’s coach at Fairleigh Dickinson andSeton Hall. She played semi-pro ball for the New Jersey Wildcats of the USL W-League.
• McCormick served as the head coach of DePauw’s women’s team and since 2015 has worked as a U.S.Soccer Training Center staff coach and as a coaching education instructor for the Indiana Soccer State Association. She played for Indiana United of the WPSL in 2009-2012.
• Lintonarrives from Australia, where she served as an assistant of Australia’s women’s national team, including at 2016 Olympic Games and 2015 Women’s World Cup. She also served as head and assistant coachof Australia’s U-17 and U-20 national teams.
Sporting KC signs 15-year-oldforward Gianluca Busio
At 15 years and 89 days, Gianluca Busio became the second-youngest player in MLS’s 22 years to sign with MLS when he inked aHomegrown contract with Sporting Kansas City. Busio, who joined Sporting KC after moving from his home state of North Carolina in 2016, recently starred for the USA at the Concacaf U-15 Championship.Click HERE for more on Busio.
Paul Gardner (and others) should note that nine of 22 on the BU17 roster have Latino names.
But only 2-3 starters. 1-2 starting field players. Oh, no! We are doomed again!!
I believe that FPGN confirmed that Trinity Rodman is of Denise rodmans offspring.
anyone know how tall Garces is?
Of course not. The latin influence is very important, and we must be inclusive of the spanish-speaking populations if we are going to optimize our player development model. I certainly do that in my local community. I just think it’s a bit silly when we assume that our roster is great or shite because we have x number of latin names. Similar to the argument that great players cannot come from the suburbs when many of our best prospects are from the suburbs.