GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (Aug. 7, 2008) -- The U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team split a pair of decisions in two international friendlies against CONCACAF rival Guatemala during a recent tour of Central America.

The U.S. took a first half lead when Soony Saad scored the first goal of the game in the 33rd minute. Midfielder Carlos Martinez played a ball over the top for Saad, who ran onto the ball and beat Guatemalan goalkeeper Edy Garcia by putting the ball into the side netting.

Ten minutes into the second half, however, a penalty kick conversion by Henry Lopez leveled the score. In the 66th minute, Kendal Herrate gave Guatemala a lead they would never relinquish, hitting home a shot from close range to beat American netminder Earl Edwards.

Two days later, Jack McInerney scored the lone goal of the game just two minutes after halftime to give the U.S. a 1-0 victory over the hosts. The U.S. held onto the lead with tenacity, despite going down a man in the 65th minute when Julio Arjona was ejected. Samir Badr made three saves in the shutout win.




Participants: USA U17 MNT v Guatemala U17 MNT
Competition: International Friendly
Location:  Estadio Mateo Flores – Guatemala City, GUATEMALA
Date: August 5, 2008
Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy
**85 minute game - 40 minute first half; 45 minute second half**

Scoring Summary:
                  1     2      F
USA         1     0      1
GUA         0     2      2

USA    Soony Saad        (11-Carlos Martinez)    33rd min       
GUA    Henry Lopez                                                56th min       
GUA    Kendel Herrate                                           66th min       



Lineups:
USA: 1-Earl Edwards; 2-Perry Kitchen, 3-Tyler Polak, 4-Julio Arjona, 6-Shaquille Phillips (17-Eriq Zavaleta, 69); 5-Marlon Duran, 8-Victor Pineda (10-Luis Gil, 72), 11-Carlos Martinez (22-Jack McInerney, 72), 13-Joseph-Claude Gyau (21-Stefan Jerome, 60) ; 7-Dominick Sarle (16-Nicholas Palodichuk, 64), 9-Soony Saad;
    
Subs Not Used:  12-Zachary Herold, 14-Andrew Craven, 15-Alex Shinsky, 18-Samir Badr, 19-Sean Davis, 20-Michael Ambrose, 23-Erik Stephenson, 24-Spencer Richey

Head Coach: Wilmer Cabrera


GUA:  1-Edy Garcia; 3-Kevin Villalobos, 5-Alex Diaz (4-Luis Vega, 76), 6-Rafael Hernandez, 14-Daniel Marin; 7-Fernando Leon, 8-Marvin Ceballos (10-Carlos Cirriz, 74), 11-Kenroy Alvarez, 13-Jose Castillo; 9-Kendel Herrate (15-Marcus Rodes, 18-Henry Lopez (12-Kevin Norales, 79);

Subs Not Used:  25-Salvador Ramirez, 2-Jose Lemus, 16-Gerson Lima

Head Coach:  Antonia Garcia


Statistical Summary:
                       USA  /  GUA
Shots        8  / 9     
Shots on goal    3  / 4
Saves        2  /  2
Corner Kicks    3  /  5


Misconduct Summary:
USA    Joseph-Claude Gyau (caution)      41st min       
GUA   Alex Diaz                                              72.





Participants: USA U17 MNT v Guatemala U17 MNT
Competition: International Friendly
Location:  Estadio Mateo Flores – Guatemala City, GUATEMALA
Date: August 7, 2008
Weather: 80 degrees, partly cloudy


Scoring Summary:
                      1     2      F
USA              0     1      1
GUA             0     0      0

USA    Jack McInerney    (Luis Gil)    47th min       


Lineups:
USA: 1-Samir Badr; 2-Eriq Zavaleta, 3-Michael Ambrose (16-Julio Arjona, 46), 4-Alex Shinsky, 6-Zachary Herold; 5-Erik Stephenson, 7-Stefan Jerome (14-Perry Kitchen, 68), 8-Sean Davis (11-Marlon Duran, 46), 10-Luis Gil, 13-Andrew Craven (12-Joseph-Cladue Gyau, 57); 9-Jack McInerney (23-Carlos Martinez, 90);
   
Subs Not Used:  15-Tyler Polak, 18-Spencer Richey, 19-Shaquille Phillips, 20-Soony Saad, 21-Nicholas Palodichuk, 22-Dominick Sarle, 24-Earl Edwards, 25-Victor Pineda

Head Coach: Wilmer Cabrera


GUA:  1-Eddy Garcia; 2-Jose Lemus, 3-Kevin Villalobos, 5-Henry Lopez (4-Luis Vega, 55), 14-Daniel Marin; 9-Fernando Leon (19-Marlon Sequen, 77), 10-Carlos Ciraiz (12-Kevin Norales, 65), 13-Jose Castillo, 16-Gerson Lima (11-Kenroy Alvarez, 70); 7-Kendella Herrarte, 18-Henry Lopez

Subs Not Used:  15-Marcos Rodas, 20-Gabriel Navas, 21-Julio Guevara, 6-Rafael Hernandez, 17-Allan Carballo, 8-Marvin Ceballos, 23-Brailin De Leon, 25-Salvador Ramirez, 24-Bruss Leiva

Head Coach:  Antonio Garcia


Statistical Summary:
                       USA  /  GUA
Shots        9  /  6     
Shots on goal    4  /  3
Saves        2  /  3
Corner Kicks    0  /  4

Misconduct Summary:
GUA    Daniel Marin        (caution)       59th min
USA    Alex Shinsky        (caution)       63.
USA    Bryan Duran    (caution)            65.
GUA    Kevin Villalobos    (cauiton)    65.
USA    Julio Arjona        (ejection)       65.
USA    Luis Gil        (caution)                82.
USA    Jack McInerney    (caution)      90.