U.S. U-20 men start new cycle with pair of wins

The next generation of U.S. U-20s started their two-year cycle, which culminates with 2021 U-20 World Cup, by beating Croatia, 2-1, and the UAE U-23s, 3-0, in Rogaska Slatina, Slovenia. Tab Ramos, who has coached the USA at the last four U-20 World Cups, took a 22-player roster that included two players, goalkeeper David Ochoa and winger Konrad de la Fuente, who started for the USA at the 2019 U-20 World Cup, at which the USA reached the quarterfinals for a third straight time.


Against a Zagreb selection, the USA got its goals from Cole Bassett, who has already played 23 MLS games (with two goals) in two seasons for the Colorado Rapids, and Cameron Harper, who played for Southern California's Patadores before heading to Scotland, where he plays for Celtic's reserves.

The scorers against the UAE were: Johan Gomez, a longtime FC Dallas player who is now with Porto's U-19s, Bassett, and Matteo Ritaccio, a former BW Gottschee now with Liverpool's academy.


U.S. Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (2): David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake), Patrick Schulte (Saint Louis University)
DEFENDERS (8): Kwabena Boateng (UC Irvine), Kevin Bonilla (FC Dallas academy), George Campbell (Atlanta United), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union academy), Ian Hoffmann (Karlsruher U19/GER), Stuart Ritchie (Hannover 96 U19/GER), Leonardo Sepulveda (Salamanca Juvenil A/ESP), Travian Sousa (Hamburg U19/GER)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids), Justin Haak (NYCFC), Marcelo Palomino (Unattached), Matteo Ritaccio (Liverpool U-18/ENG), Thomas Roberts (FC Dallas), Tanner Tessmann (FC Dallas academy), Indiana Vassilev (Aston Villa U-23/ENG)
FORWARDS (5): Konrad de la Fuente (Barcelona Juvenil A/ESP), Johan Gomez (Porto U-19/POR), Cameron Harper (Celtic Reserves/SCO), Jalen Hawkins (Ingolstadt U19/GER), Charlie Kelman (Southend United/ENG)

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