U.S. Under-20 Men Fall to Hosts at Milk Cup in Northern Ireland

The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team fell to the hosts, Northern Ireland, by a 3-1 score on Monday at the 2008 Milk Cup. The U.S. got on the scoreboard in the first half on a Northern Ireland own goal. 

The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team fell to the hosts, Northern Ireland, by a 3-1 score on Monday at the 2008 Milk Cup. The U.S. got on the scoreboard in the first half on a Northern Ireland own goal. Head coach Thomas Rongen selected 18 players to travel to Northern Ireland, where the U.S. will now face Wales and a team TBD. Rongen has called in 11 players that were part of the team’s most recent home match against Mexico, which the U.S. won 3-0, including five players from Major League Soccer and two who play abroad. Midfielder Michael Green will be joining the team for his first-ever National Team camp, after he was spotted by Rongen at the Development Academy Finals, where he was playing with the U-18 Columbus Crew Academy squad that finished in third place. The U.S. next faces Wales on Wednesday.

-U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team Match Report-
Match-up: USA U-20 MNT vs. Northern Ireland U-20 MNT
Competition: Milk Cup
Location: Coleraine Showgrounds, Northern Ireland
Date: July 28, 2008
Weather: Warm and Sunny

Scoring Summary:    1    2    F
USA                               1    0    1
NIR                                 1   2     3

NIR -  #10 (#9)         19th minute
USA -  Own goal      38th minute
NIR - Own goal        63rd minute
NIR -  #17                 84th minute

Lineups:
USA:18-Brian Perk, 3-Richard Balchan(15-Mike Green, 75), 2-Kyle Davies(10-Vincenzo Bernardo, 87), 4-Ike Opara, 6-Sheanon Williams, 11-Jorge Flores, 17-Amobi Okugo(7-Brandon Manzonelli, 82), 14-Anthony Wallace, 8-Danny Cruz(5-Zarek Valentin, half), 12-Brek Shea, 9-Peri Marosevic(13-Casey Townsend, half)
Subs Not Used: 1-Josh Lambo, 16-Kirk Urso
Head Coach: Thomas Rongen

NIR: #12, #3, #6, #5, #2(#15, 85), #11(#18, 67), #4(#14, 72), #8(#17, 56), #7(#16, 56), #9, #10
Subs N/A
Head Coach: N/A



Statistical Summary: USA/NIR
Shots:                                  9 / 8
Saves:                                  3 / 3
Fouls:                                 10 / 10
Corner Kicks:                     1  / 2
Offside:                                3 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
NIR -  #2 (caution)                     53rd minute.

U.S. Under-20 MNT
2008 Milk Cup
Northern Ireland
July 24 – August 2, 2008

Schedule
Date         Opponent                 Result         USA Scorers                 Location
July 28     Northern Ireland     1-3 L           Own goal                       Coleraine, NIR
July 30     Wales                                                                                    Ballymoney, NIR
Aug. 1      TBD                           TBD                                                     NIR

U.S. Under-20 MNT 2008 Milk Cup Roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): Josh Lambo (FC Dallas), Brian Perk (UCLA)
DEFENDERS (6): Richard Balchan (Indiana University), Kyle Davies (Southampton FC), Ike Opara (Wake Forest), Zarek Valentin (Lancaster, Pa.), Anthony Wallace (FC Dallas), Sheanon Williams (North Carolina)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Daniel Cruz (UNLV), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA), Michael Green (Columbus Crew Academy), Brandon Manzonelli (New England Revolution), Amobi Okugo (Sacramento, Calif.), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
FORWARDS (4): Vincenzo Bernardo (SSC Napoli), Abdus Ibrahim (Toronto FC), Peri Marosevic (Michigan), Casey Townsend (Maryland)