Under-18s Top Under-20s 3-2 to Finish Off Training Camps at NTC

CARSON, Calif. - The U.S. Under-18 MNT got goals from midfielders Christian Jimenez and Michael Bradley, and defender Adam Sloustcher in a hard-fought 3-2 over the U.S. Under-20 MNT today in a scrimmage at the National Training Center in Carson, Calif. on Thursday afternoon. Jimenez added an assist and forward Rodrigo Hidalgo had a pair of helpers for the U-18s.

CARSON, Calif. (Thursday, January 8, 2003) - The U.S. Under-18 MNT got goals from midfielders Christian Jimenez and Michael Bradley,  and defender Adam Sloustcher in a hard-fought 3-2 over the U.S. Under-20 MNT today in a scrimmage at the National Training Center in Carson, Calif. on Thursday afternoon. Jimenez added an assist and forward Rodrigo Hidalgo had a pair of helpers for the U-18s.

Fresh of a cameo appearance with the full national team in training, Jimenez put the Under-18s ahead in the 26th minute after converting a cross from forward Rodrigo Hidalgo.

Just four minutes later, forward Jamie Watson found the end of a John DiRaimondo corner to level the score at 1-1.

On the day he announced his signing with Major League Soccer, Bradley showed a skilled touch to score the U-18's second goal in minute No. 58. After collecting a backheel pass from Hidalgo, Bradley chipped U-20 goalkeeper Andrew Kartunen.

Jimenez added an assist to his open goal on the game winning tally by Sloustcher. Making a good run toward goal, the defender headed home the corner kick from his U-17 residency teammate for the eventual game-winner in the 60th minute.

A goal by Chad Barrett 10 minutes from time cut the lead to 3-2, but the Under-20s ran out of time in the end and were upset by the younger squad despite holding a 9-6 advantage on shots.

The Under-20s were without the services of Freddy Adu and Danny Szetela, who returned to Bradenton, Fla., for end of the semester exams with U.S. Soccer's Under-17 residency program.  The camp closes for both of these teams on Friday.



Participants: U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team vs. U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team
Competition: Training
Location: National Training Center; The Home Depot Center; Carson, Calif.
Date: Jan. 8, 2004
Weather: Warm, 70 degrees

Scoring Summary:     1st   2nd   Final
Under-20s                     1      1        2
Under-18s                     1      2        3

U-18 – Christian Jimenez (Rodrigo Hidalgo)              26th minute
U-20 – Jamie Watson (John DiRaimondo)                30th
U-18 – Michael Bradley (Rodrigo Hidalgo)                58th
U-18 – Adam Sloustcher (Christian Jimenez)           60th
U-20 – Chad Barrett                                              80th

Starting Lineups:

U-20 – Andrew Kartunen; Chris Germani, Patrick Phelan, Brandon Owens, Hunter Freeman; Will Hall, John DiRaimondo, Steven Curfman, Brian Grazier; Jamie Waton, Arturo Alvarez.

U18 – Stephen Sandbo; Tim Ward, Nathan Sturgis, Karl Schilling, Adam Sloustcher; Anthony Beltran, Christian Jimenez, Diego Berrera, Dax McCarty; Rodrigo Hidalgo, Charlie Davies

Statistical Summary:     U20   U18
Shots                              9       6
Saves                             3       3
Corner Kick                     9       7
Fouls                              0       2
Offside                           12      4