ROSARIO, Argentina (July 10, 2008) -- The U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team dropped a 3-0 decision to host Argentina at the Copa Cuidad de Rosario tournament in Argentina.

Despite creating numerous chances early in the game, the U.S. found themselves behind in just the sixth minute. Leonel Diaz got Argentina on the board by firing a shot that deflected off of an American defender, giving goalkeeper Earl Edwards no chance as he reacting the other way.

Jack McInerney almost leveled the game when he ripped a bouncing ball on target from about 30 yards out, but Argentinean 'keeper Damian Martinez back-tracked quickly to knock the ball away at the last second.

Later in the half, Stefan Jerome got in behind the defense and was in alone on Martinez. He touched the ball around the sliding netminder, but his shot slipped just wide of the goal. Carlos Martinez, who had a goal and an assist in the USA's first game of the tournament against A.R.F., got on the end of a great ball into the box from McInerney, but he flicked his shot just wide.

Argentina added to their lead late in the game. In the 81st minute, Lucas Mungi got to the end of a cross from Gabriel Graciani and slotted the ball into the side netting past a diving Edwards. Four minutes later, a corner from Sergio Araujo got to the head of Adrian Martinez, who scored the final goal for the hosts to make it a 3-0 final.

The U.S. will round out their South American trip with a game against Chile on Friday, July 11.


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

Participants: USA U17 MNT v. Argentina U17 MNT
Competition: COPA Ciudad de Rosario
Location: Newells Old Boys Stadium, Rosario, Argentina
Date: July 10th, 2008
Weather: 59 degrees, cloudy

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

ARG Leonel Diaz 6th minute
ARG Lucas Mungi (Gabriel Graciani) 81st
ARG Adrian Martinez (Sergio Araujo) 85th

Lineups:
USA: 1-Earl Edwards; 2-Perry Kitchen, 3-Tyler Polak, 4-Alex Shinsky, 6-Zach Herold; 5-Bryan Duran, 10-Luis Gil, 11-Carlos Martinez (14-George Malki, 73), 13-Joseph Gyau (16-Soony Saad, 73), 7-Stefan Jerome (8-Robert Derschang, 60), 9-Jack McInerney;

Subs Not Used: 18-Spencer Richey, 24-Samir Badr, 12-Shaquille Phillips, 15-Jamie Gutierrez, 17-Julio Arjona, 19-Michael Ambrose, 20-Sean Davis, 21-Eriq Zavaleta, 22-Chase Miller, 23-Victor Pineda
Head Coach: Wilmer Cabrera

Argentina: 1-Damian Martinez; 2-Esteban Espindola, 3-Agustin Mancinelli, 4-Adrian Martinez, 6-Benjamin Rosales (13-Alejandro Lopez, 46); 5-Leandro Fioravanti (14-Jorge Balbuena, 70), 7-Nicolas Tagliafico, 8-Leonel Diaz (16-Gabriel Graciani, 73), 19-Matias Sosa (20-Juan Montero, 58); 9-Diego Celiz (18-Lucas Mugni, 79), 11-Sergio Araujo (22-Eduardo Rotondi, 88);

Subs Not Used: 12-Ignacio Arce, 15-Gonzalo Olid Apaza, 21-Daniel Villalva, 23-Manuel Risson, Leandro Pirez, Nicolas Gonzalez, Ezequiel Cirigliano,
Head Coach: Brown Jose Luis

Statistical Summary:
USA ARG
Shots 9 12
Shots on goal 4 5
Saves 0 2
Corner Kicks 4 6
Offside 1 11

Misconduct Summary:
ARG Nicolas Tagliafico Caution 27th minute
ARG Diego Celiz Caution 63rd
ARG Esteban Espindola Caution 77th