Youth: Ulysses Llanez and David Ochoa star as U.S. U-18 men win Czech tourney

• by Mike Woitalla  @MikeWoitalla, Aug 26, 2018

The USA beat Japan in a shootout after a 1-1 tie in the final of Vaclav Jezek Tournament, which the USA also won in 2014 and 2016. Ulysses Llanez scored for the USA against Japan and goalkeeper David Ochoa made the crucial saves in the spot-kick tiebreaker. The team was coached by U-20 head coach Tab Ramos, who was filling in for Omid Namazi, who left U.S. Soccer in June to coach in Iran's top-flight league.

Llanez, who plays for the LA Galaxy's USL and Development Academy team, also assisted on four goals at the Vaclav Jezek Tournament, the final of which the USA reached thanks to wins over the United Arab Emirates (2-1), Bulgaria (5-0) and a 1-1 tie with host Czech Republic.

Goalkeeper Ochoa, a Southern California product like Llanez, plays DA ball for Real Salt Lake.

USA SCORERS AT VACLAV JEZEK TOURNEY
2 Florian Balogun (Arsenal/ENG)
2 Roberto Hategan (Sacramento Republic)
2 Gabe Segal (Bethesda SC)
1 Ulysses Llanez (LA Galaxy)
1 Thomas Roberts (FC Dallas)
1 Indiana Vassilev (Aston Villa/ENG)

U.S. U-18 men's national team
GOALKEEPERS (2): David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake academy; Oxnard, Calif.), Kristopher Shakes (Bethlehem Steel FC; Coral Springs, Fla.).
DEFENDERS (7): Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy academy; Lompoc, Calif.), Nico Benalcazar (New York City FC academy; Wilton, Conn.); Nathan Harriel (Chargers Soccer Club; Oldsmar, Fla.), Julian Hinojosa (FC Dallas academy; Garland, Texas), Owen Otasowie (Wolves/ENG; New York, N.Y.), Stuart Ritchie (FC Groningen; Schoolstraat, Netherlands), Leonardo Sepulveda (LA Galaxy academy; Corona, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Taylor Booth (Unattached; Eden, Utah), Justin Haak (New York City FC academy; Brooklyn, N.Y.), Aidan Morris (Crew SC Academy; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.); Marcelo Palomino (Houston Dynamo academy; Houston, Texas); Thomas Roberts (FC Dallas; Little Rock, Ark.), Indiana Vassilev (Aston Villa/ENG; Savannah, Ga.).
FORWARDS (6): Roberto Hategan (Sacramento Republic; Chicago, Ill.), Ulysses Llanez (LA Galaxy academy; Lynwood, Calif.), Axel Picaxo (Philadelphia Union academy; Chester Springs, Penn.), Bryan Reynolds (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Gabe Segal (Bethesda SC; Bethesda, Md.), Folarin Balogun (Arsenal/ENG; South Ockendon, England).

Ulysses Llanez (17) has had an excellent 2018 so far:

2 Goals, 1 Assist in 10 USL games for Galaxy II

U16/U17 DA Western Conference Player of the Year

US-U20 Call Up

Trial at Bayern Munich

1 Goal, 4 Assists in Vaclav Jezek Tournament

Vaclav Jezek Champion

Top Prospect pic.twitter.com/uz9fw5cALq

— Future USMNT (@FutureUsmnt) August 26, 2018