LA ROCHE SUR YON, France (March 20, 2008) -- Three second half goals lifted Japan to a 3-1 win over the U.S Under-17 Men's National Team '92s at the Mondial Minimes Tournament in France.

After a scoreless first half, Takashi Usami converted a penalty kick to give Japan a 52nd minute lead. Just seven minutes later, Jack McInerney put away a 22-yard free kick to level the score.

Japan, despite being outshot by the U.S. 13-11 and taking zero corner kicks to the USA's seven, was able to take advantage of their opportunities. After American goalkeeper Spencer Richey saved a shot from Takuto Haraguchi, Takum Miyayoshi pounced on the rebound and was able to put Japan back on top. Usami's second of the night provided insurance for his team. After a solid individual effort carrying the ball down the right side, Usami fired a shot that hit the far post of Richey's goal and went in.

The U.S. will round out group play at the Mondial Minimes Tournament on Saturday, March 22 against England.

U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team Game Report

Participants: USA vs. Japan
Competition: Mondial Minimes Montaigu Vendee 2008
Location: Le Stade Henri-Desgrange, La Roche sur Yon, France
Date: March 20, 2008
Weather: Cloudy, 47 degrees

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

JPN - Takashi Usami (unassisted)                    52nd min
USA - Jack McInerney (unassisted)                    59.  
JPN - Takum Miyayoshi (Takuto Haraguchi)     62.  
JPN - Takashi Usami (unassisted)                    67.  


Lineups:

USA - 18-Spencer Richey; 2-Perry Kitchen [Capt], 3-Tyler Polak, 4-Emilio Orozco (16-Alex Shinsky, 4), 6-Shaquille Phillips; 5-Bryan Duran (9-Stefan Jerome, 41), 10-Luis Gil (15-Cristian Alvarez, 70), 11-Carlos Martinez, 8-Rob Derschang; 7-Jack McInerney, 13-Joseph-Claude Gyau;

Subs not used: 1-Earl Edwards, 12-Chase Miller, 14-Alex Bramall

Head Coach: Wilmer Cabrera

JPN – 1-Eisuke Fujishima; 2-Ryuki Nakajima, 3-Tatsuya Uchida, 5-Yuma Hiroki, 6-Koji Takano; 7-Seiya Mochizuki, 8-Yuki Kobayashi, 9-Takashi Usami, 11-Gaku Shibasaki; 14-Takuto Haraguchi, 15-Takuma Miyayoshi;

Subs not used: 4-Colin Killoran, 10-Shohta Wakuda, 12-Teruki Tanaka, 13-Yuta Ito, 16-Yoshiaki Takagi, 17-Yuji Ono, 18-Tasuhiro Watanabe

Head Coach: Yutaka Ikeuchi


Statistical Summary:
      USA / JPN
Shots 13 / 11
Shots on goal 6 / 7
Saves 4 / 6
Fouls 18 / 10
Corner Kicks 7 / 0
Offside 6 / 4

Misconduct Summary:
NONE