U.S. U-19 men beat host Spain at COTIF tourney

The U.S. U-19 men’s national team upset host Spain, 1-0, at the l’Acudia COTIF tournament thanks to a free-kick goal by Brandon Vazquez, a Southern Californian product who joinedTijuana Xolos’ youth program before playing for the USA at the 2015 U-17 World Cup.

Coach Brad Friedel’s team, which faces Bahrain on Monday, opened the tournament witha 2-0 loss to Venezuela and a 1-0 win over Mauritania on a goal by the Chicago Fire academy’s Djordje Mihailovic. The USA is in third place in Group A, tied on six points withsecond-place Spain, which has a superior goal difference, and one point behind first-place Venezuela.

Spain faces Venezuela in its final group game. The top two finishers in Group A and willreach the semifinals against the top two finishers in Group B, which is led by Argentina and Mexico, followed by Qatar, Costa Rica, Morocco.

July 29 in Valencia, Spain
Spain 0USA 1.
Goal: Vazquez 51.
Spain — Fernández, Buñuel, Cucurella, Martín, Castaño, Puado (R.Fernández, 56), Pepelu,Rodríguez (Navarro, 48), Jordan (García,56),Díaz (Rodríguez, 48), Nolaskoain (Genaro, 48).
USA —Vom Steeg, Nelson, Arellano, Fossey, McKennie, DaSilva (Agu, 80), Vázquez, Trusty, Mihailovic, Enriquez (Nelson, 64), Lankford (Young, 41).

July 28 in Valencia, Spain
USA 1 Mauritania 0.
Goal: Mihailovic 40.
USA — Vom Steeg, Arellano, Fossey (Munjoma, 61), Young, Da Silva, Vázquez (Colby, 61), Mihailovic (Hunsinger, 81), Nelson, Vega (McKennie, 41), Trusty, Pines.
Mauritania — Mbarek, Abeid (Babeker, 76), Niass (Konate, 61), Abdou, Traore, Teguedi (Alasanne Diop, min. 76), Tanjy (Mohamed, 61), Dellah Yaly, N’Diaye, El Hacen (Lemrabott,61), El Ide, Sleimane.

July 26 in Valencia,Spain
USA 0 Venezuela 2.
Goals: Heber 48, Balza 53.
USA — Silva; Arellano (Pines, 73), Montalvo (Nelson, 41), Bashti (Mihailovic, 41),Fossey, McKennie (Enríquez, 73), Young (Monjoma, 57), Da Silva (Lankford, 57), Trusty, Hunsinger (Haji, 41), Agu (Vázquez, 57).
Venezuela — Fariñez, Quero(Hernández, 41), Fuentes, Rivas (Pinto, 74), Herrera, Chacón (Balza, 41), Soteldo (Silva, 74), Peña (Acebedo, 41), Ramírez (Heber, 30), Mejías, Hernández.
Att.: 5,000.

U.S. Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brady Scott (De Anza Force), Kevin Silva (PDA), Justin Vom Steeg(Unattached).
DEFENDERS (7): Hugo Arellano (LA Galaxy II), Marlon Fossey (Fulham/ENG), Hector Montalvo (FC Dallas academy), John Nelson (Internationals), Matthew Olosunde(Manchester United/ENG), Donovan Pines (D.C. United academy), Auston Trusty (Bethlehem Steel).
MIDFIELDERS (8): Amir Bashti (Stanford Univ.), Pierre Da Silva (Orlando City SCB), Christian Enriquez (Nomads FC), Nelson Hunsinger (Leg A-Z), Kevin Lankford (Heidenheim/GER), Weston McKennie (FC Dallas academy), Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire academy), Devin Vega (FC Dallasacademy).
FORWARDS (4): Colby Agu (Capital Area Railhawks), Abdulkadir Haji (Seacoast United) Brandon Vazquez (Tijuana/MEX), Isaiah Young (PDA).