U.S. U-20 MNT Advances to Milk Cup Final to Play Host Northern Ireland

The U.S. U-20 MNT has advanced to the final of the Milk Cup Elite Section in Northern Ireland after a wild 3-2 win against Denmark on Wednesday evening in Coleraine.

July 28, 2010

The U.S. U-20 MNT has advanced to the final of the Milk Cup Elite Section in Northern Ireland after a wild 3-2 win against Denmark on Wednesday evening in Coleraine.

Combined with the USA’s win on Monday against China, Thomas Rongen’s team takes six points to have a shot at the championship, where they will face the hosts on Friday at 1 p.m. ET. The U.S. is the only team in the Elite Section to take two wins from its first two games, and will face a Northern Ireland team that drew 1-1 with Mexico and topped China 5-0.

After the Americans allowed an early goal, Adrian Ruelas drew them even at 1-1 heading into halftime. Fuad Ibrahim scored for the U.S. just minutes after entering as a substitute, but an own goal put the score even once again at 2-2. In the 89th minute, with the U.S. knowing they needed a win, Ruelas provided the winner that sent his team to the Final.

The other placement games at the Milk Cup will see Japan and China meet for fifth place and Mexico taking on Denmark for third place.

U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team Match Report

Participants: USA U-20 MNT vs. Denmark
Competition: 2010 Milk Cup
Location: Coleraine Showgrounds, Northern Ireland
Date: July 28, 2010
Time: 8:00pm
Weather: Cold and Damp

Scoring Summary:
          1   2    Final
USA    1 2     3
DEN    1   1     2

DEN – Mathias Nielsen   27th minute
USA – Adrian Ruelas     30
USA – Fuad Ibrahim     74
DEN – (Own Goal)        85
USA – Adrian Ruelas    89

Lineups:
USA: 24-Samir Badr, 2-Zarek Valentin, 19-Ethan White (10-Francisco Navas Cobo, 86), 22-Gale Agbossoumonde, 15-Bryan De La Fuente (5-Greg Garza, 64), 21-Conor Shanosky (14-Fuad Ibrahim, 72), 8-Dillon Powers (6-Perry Kitchen, 60), 16-Ernest Nungaray (7-Alex Molano, 46), 9-Omar Salgado, 17-Juan Agudelo, 13-Adrian Ruelas
Subs Not Used: 3-Sacir Hot, 18-Zac MacMath
Head Coach: Thomas Rongen

DEN: 1-Nicolai Oppen Larsen, 12-Daniel Hoegh, 8-Mathias Nielsen, 4-Erik Sviatchenko, 3-Mikkel Kirkeskov, 5-Kevin Niclas Mensah (10-David Boysen, 69), 15-MarcelIbsen Romer, 18-Mathias Wichmann, 13-Jesper A. Lauridsen (11-Ramus Lynge, 69), 9-Bjorn Paulsen, 17-Kasper Kusk (6-Kasper T.K. Hansen, 76)
Subs Not Used: 2-Mathias Reimer, 7-Azad Corlu, 14-Jonas Hebo, 16-Michael A.B.
Head Coach: Keld Bordinggaard

Statistical Summary: USA / DEN
Shots 6 / 9
Saves 4 /2
Fouls 11 / 16
Corner Kicks 3 / 3
Offside 4 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Gale Agbossoumonde (caution)   50th minute
USA – Bryan De La Fuente (caution)       51
USA – Omar Salgado (caution)              74
DEN – Marcel Ibsen Romer (caution)      77

Milk Cup Elite Section Schedule/Results
Date          Result
June 26     Denmark 4, Japan 1
June 26    USA 1, China 0
June 26     Mexico 1, Northern Ireland 1
June 28    USA 3, Denmark 2
June 28     Northern Ireland 5, China 0
June 28     Mexico 3, Japan 1
June 30     Fifth Place: Japan vs. China
June 30     Third Place: Mexico vs. Denmark
June 30    Final: USA vs. Northern Ireland

2010 Milk Cup Elite Section Standings