The U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team tried to keep its U-19 SuperGroup semifinal hopes alive at the Dallas Cup with a 5-1 victory over CF Monterey in a game that was marred by rough play that lead to four Monterey players being ejected and the U.S. playing 11v7 for the final 10 minutes of the match.

The U.S. was eliminated later in the evening as the later results did not go their way.

CF Monterey took an early 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute as a forward Hector Morales blasted a shot from outside the 18-yard box into the upper-left corner of the goal.

Midfielder Dax McCarty was able to tie the game in the 32nd minute after pouncing on a loose ball outside the penalty area. Monterey had tried to clear it from danger, but the ball fell to McCarty, who powered it past the ‘keeper to the far left post.

The U.S. took the lead in the 48th minute behind defender Julian Valentin’s first goal of the year. Valentin was sent through on the right side of the box and finished near post off a deflection past the surprised ‘keeper.

After the Under-18s took the lead, the game began to get rough as there were numerous cleats-up tackles and late fouls committed by Monterey players. A minute after Valentine’s goal, Monterey’s first ejection came as their starting midfielder received his second yellow (receiving the first in the 44th minute).

During the next 30 minutes, three more Monterey players were ejected on straight red cards (56th, 76th, and 80th), leaving only seven players on the field for the Mexican club for the final 10 minutes.

When the U.S. players were not being fouled they were scoring goals as forward UNC’s Jamie Watson scored twice (69th and 86th), with the MetroStars Michael Bradley scoring in between Watson's strikes in the 73rd minute.

- U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team Match Report -

Participants:     U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team vs. CF Monterey
Location:     Dallas, Texas 
Date:    April 7, 2004
Weather:    Warm, 70 degrees

Scoring Summary:    1st    2nd    Final 
CFM                                1       0         1
USA                                 1       4         5

CFM - Hector Morales                                          22nd minute
USA - Dax McCarty                                              32nd
USA - Julian Valentin                                            48th
USA - Jamie Watson (Mike Grella)                    69th
USA - Michael Bradley (Danny Szetela)            73rd
USA - Jamie Watson (Danny Szetela)               86th
 
Lineups:
USA: 18-Stephen Sandbo; 4-Jules Valentin, 2-Karl Schilling, 8-Nathan Sturgis (5-Tim Ward, 46), 6-Adam Sloustcher (16-Christian Jimenez, 70); 10-Danny Szetela, 12-Nico Colaluca, 15-Dax McCarty (7-Michael Bradley, 51), 20-Mike Videira; 9-Rodrigo Hidalgo (3-Mike Grella, 63), 11-Jamie Watson.

CFM: n/a


Statistical Summary:           CFM    USA
Shots                                           6          11                 
Saves                                          4           3            
Corner Kick                                2           8
Fouls                                           21        13  
Offside                                        1           2

Misconduct Summary:
USA - Julian Valentin (caution)                      40th
USA - Adam Sloustcher (caution)                 41st
CFM - n/a (caution)                                         44th
CFM - n/a (caution)                                         49th 
CFM - n/a (ejection)                                        49th
CFM - n/a (ejection)                                        56th
CFM - n/a (ejection)                                        76th
CFM - n/a (ejection)                                        80th