The U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team drew 3-3 with the Real Madrid Juniors in a tantalizing friendly match this afternoon in Madrid, Spain.
The match was preparation for the 13th Lisbon International Tournament, which the U-18s will compete in from June 8-11 in Portugal.
The U.S. fell behind by two goals by the 11th minute. Cristian put Real up in the ninth minute when he pounced on a deflection left by U.S. goalkeeper Brian Perk after he saved Heredia’s initial shot from a tight angle. The ball fell to Cristian and he had an easy put away.
Two minutes later, a pass was deflected in the air around the top of the box and Heredia hit a half-volley into the far post.
Despite falling behind early, the U.S. dug themselves out of the hole and eventually took the lead before halftime with three goals in a seven minute span. Midfielder Jonathan Villanueva had a hand in every goal.
Villanueva cut the lead to one on a stunning 40-yard dribbling run and finish in the 36th minute. With Josmer Altidore streaking up the right, Villanueva kept the ball himself and dribbled toward goal before slotting the ball into the corner from 15 yards out.
Two minutes later, the game was even. Villanueva found space from 20 yards out and unleashed a strike on target that the ‘keeper got just enough of to push off the post. The ball fell in front of the goal to a waiting Altidore, who finished into the open net.
Villanueva gave the U.S. the temporary lead in the 42nd minute when he hit a stunning free kick past the Real ‘keeper.
Real Madrid pulled back even two minutes after halftime when R. Carrasco served in a corner kick and Arocha headed it past Joe Bendik, who had replaced Perk in goal at halftime.
On Tuesday, the U.S. will travel to Lisbon, Portugal, and have one day of training before kicking off the four-team Lisbon International Tournament. The U.S. will take on Sweden on June 8, and Norway on June 9, before finishing up the tournament on June 11against the host Portugal.
- U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team Game Report -
Participants: U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team vs. Real Madrid Juniors
Competition: Friendly
Location: Madrid, Spain
Date: June 5, 2006
Weather: Warm, 70 degrees
Attendance: n/a
Scoring Summary: 1 2 FinalUSA 3 0 3
MAD 2 1 3
MAD – Cristian 9th minute
MAD – Heredia 11.
USA – Jonathan Villanueva 36.
USA – Josmer Altidore 38.
USA – Jonathan Villanueva 42.
MAD – Arocha (Alvaro) 47.
LineupsUSA: 1-Brian Perk (18-Joe Bendik, 46); 4-Greg Eckhardt (3-Blair Gavin, 46), 12-Colin Givens, 16-Kyle Davies (2-Cam Lamming, 60), 23-Anthony Wallace; 15-Dan Kelly (11-Michael Stephens, 46), 3-Bryan Arguez, 17-Corben Bone, 20-Cameron Brown (13-Daniel Rodriguez, 46), 8-Jonathan Villanueva (7-Casey Townsend, 46; 15-Dan Kelly, 75), 22-Josmer Altidore (9-Perica Marosevic, 46)
MAD: 1-Escavy; 2-R. Carrasco, 4-Parada, 5-Carrasco (14-Torre, 49) , 3-Rtoribio; 8-Javi Garcia (15-Borjo, 15), 6-Gutierrez, 10-Arocha, 7-Alvaro; 9-Cristian, 11-Heredia.
Statistical Summary: USA MADShots 15 10
Saves 5 4
Fouls 9 11
Corner Kicks 2 3
Offside 4 6
Misconduct Summary:none
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