ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Sept. 8, 2005) - The U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team defeated China 3-2 in their final preparation match before heading down to Peru to participate in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship from September 16-October 2. Despite resting a number of regular starters, the U.S. was able to find the game-winner in the second half.

Real Salt Lake midfielder Nik Besagno got the U.S. off to an early lead when he was able to bury a pass from Anthony Wallace past the China 'keeper.

The lead didn' t last long as seven minutes later China was able to find the equalizer and then struck again in the 39th minute to take a 2-1 lead.

Omar Gonzalez pulled the game even two minutes later as he slotted home a pass from Jeremy Hall.

Hall was the hero once again, scoring his third goal in four games as he received a pass from second half substitute Ryan Soroka and blasted a shot into the back of the net in the 82nd minute.

The match was played on the artificial turf field at Eckerd College as the surface will be used for every game at the FIFA U-17 World Championship, which will be played from September 16-Oct. 2 in Peru.

The U.S. was drawn in to Group C with North Korea, Italy and Ivory Coast. The U.S. opens against North Korea (Korea DPR) on Sept. 17 at 12:45 p.m. CT, before facing Italy on Sept. 20 (3:30 p.m. CT) and concludes group play on Sept. 23 (3:30 p.m. CT) against Ivory Coast. The U.S. will play their first two group matches against North Korea and Italy at Elias Aguirre Stadium in Chiclayo, before moving to Lima to face Ivory Coast in their third and final group match at Nacional Stadium. Every U.S. match at the World Youth Championship can be followed live via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker, presented by Phillips Electronics.

China is in Group A with host Peru, Costa Rica and Ghana.

U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team Match Report

Participants:  U.S. Under-17 ‘88s Men’s National Team vs. China
Competition:  International Friendly
Location: St. Petersburg, Fla. 
Date: September 8, 2005
Weather: Warm, 80 degrees
Attendance: 100

Scoring Summary: 
              1st   2nd     Final
USA        2      1          3
CHI          2      0          2

USA – Nik Besagno (Anthony Wallace)    11th minute.
CHI - #3                                                         18.
CHI - #14 (#17)                                             39.
USA – Omar Gonzalez (Jeremy Hall)         41.
USA – Jeremy Hall (Ryan Soroka)             82.

Lineups:
USA: 24-Brian Perk (18-Diego Restrepo, 46); 23-Anthony Wallace (11-Ryan Soroka, 69), 14-Neven Subotic, 21-Richard Edgar, 14-Dan Kelly; 17-Jeremy Hall, 20-Cam Brown, 16-Nik Besagno, 12-Gabe Farfan; 22-Josmer Altidore, 7-Omar Gonzalez.

CHI: n/a
 
Statistical Summary:
                              USA     CHI
Shots                      8          10
Saves                     2            3
Fouls                      15        15
Corner Kicks         4            1
Offside                   1            3 

Misconduct Summary:
CHI - #25 (caution)                    56th minute.