U.S. U-17 MNT Reaches Championship Match with Fast Start at Katalinski Tournament

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (April 5, 2014) – The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team has opportunity to play for a third consecutive international tournament title after defeating Montenegro 5-0 and tying Sarajevo Select 1-1 in its first two matches at the Josip Katalinski International Tournament.

The USA will play Bosnia and Herzegovina in the tournament championship on Sunday after Montenegro ended Sarajevo Select’s chances of reaching the title game by defeating the home-town team 3-0.

In the opening match against Montenegro, the U-17’s were spearheaded by LA Galaxy forward Haji Wright and PA Classics playmaker Christian Pulisic. Wright, who won the Golden Boot award at December’s Nike International Friendlies in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., scored a hat trick inside the opening half hour with Pulisic assisting in both the 15^th and 29^th minutes.

Between those strikes, midfielder Pierre Da Silva set up Wright for his second in the 17^th minute before feeding his strike partner Joe Gallardo in the 21^st. Wright finished off the scoring with his fourth and the USA’s fifth goal in the 53^rd minute of the second half.

The second match against Sarajevo was a much tighter affair. The USA fell behind to an early strike by Nikola Popovac in the 39th minute and needed a late equalizer from FC Dallas product Alejandro Zendejas to secure what proved a crucial point.

After the tournament concludes, the U-17 MNT will fly to Zagreb, Croatia, for a pair of friendly matches against the Croatia U-17 national team on April 8 and 10.

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

Match: United States U-17 Men’s National Team vs. Montenegro
Date: April 3, 2014
Competition: Josip Katalinski International Tournament
Venue: Stadion Otoka
Kickoff: 4 p.m. (local)
Weather: 60 degree, partly cloudy

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                         4 1 5
MNE                        0 0 0

USA                         Haji Wright (Christian Pulisic) 15th minute
USA                         Haji Wright (Pierre Da Silva) 17
USA                         Joe Gallardo (Pierre Da Silva) 21
USA                         Haji Wright (Christian Pulisic) 29
USA                         Haji Wright (Elijah Rice) 53

Lineups:
USA: 1- Kevin Silva; 3- Edwin Lara, 5- Hugo Arellano (17- Daniel Barbir, 60), 4- Alexis Velela (15- Tanner Dieterich, 60), Matt Olosunde; 6- Eric Calvillo, 8- Luca De La Torre (16- Thomas McCabe, 60), 10- Christian Pulisic (20- Alejandro Zendejas, 60); 11- Pierre Da Silva (23- Weston McKennie, 67) , 9- Joe Gallardo (19- Elijah Rice), 7- Haji Wright (21- McKinze Gaines, 60)
Subs Not Used : 12- William Pulisic, 13- John Nelson, 14- Tyler Adams, 18- George Braima
Head Coach: Richie Williams

MNE: 1-Matija Gligorovi (12-Lazar Carevic, 86); 6-Jovan Jablan (3-Kostadin Mikic, 41), 5-Yannick Filipovic (16-Gian Luca Kasumovic, 86), 4-Balsa Banovic, 11-Emrah Krnic; 9-Balsa Goranovic (17-Llija Vukotic, 86), 10-Marko Burzanovic (15-Cristian Hadziosmanovic, 67), 2-Vojin Manojlovic (20-Luka Malesevic, 21),7-Danilo Markovic (18-Nikola Dukic, 57), 13-Alija Krnic (8-Aleksandar Brezanin, 57); 14-Andrija Cosovic (19-Filip Vorotovic, 41)
Subs Not Used :
Head Coach: Boris Ljutica

Stats Summary: USA / Montenegro

Misconduct Summary:

Officials:

**PLEASE NOTE –Game was 80 minutes**

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

Match: United States U-17 Men’s National Team vs. Sarajevo Select
Date: April 4, 2014
Competition: Josip Katalinski International Tournament
Venue: Stadion Otoka
Kickoff: 11 a.m. (local)
Weather: 60 degrees, partly cloudy

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                         0 1 1
Sarajevo Select        1 0 1

Sarajevo Select        Nikola Popovac 39th minute
USA                         Alex Zendejas (Christian Pulisic) 71

Lineups:

USA: 12- Will Pulisic; 13-John Nelson, 17-Daniel Barbir, 15-Tanner Dieterich, 14-Tyler Adams; 16-Tommy McCabe, 18-George Braima (10-Christian Pulisic, 51), 23-Weston McKennie (11-Pierre Da Silva, 51); 21-McKinze Gaines (7-Haji Wright, 41), 19-Elijah Rice (2-Matt Olosunde, 51), 20-Alex Zendejas
Subs Not Used: 1-Kevin Silva, 3-Edwin Lara, 4-Alexis Velela, 5-Hugo Arellano, 6-Eric Calvillo, 8-Luca De La Torre, 9-Joe Gallardo
Head Coach: Richie Williams

Sarajevo Select: 1-Enis Isovic; 3-Selmir Pidro, 6-Amer Hadzic, 5-Tarik Mostarlic, 2-Mufid Salcinovic; 17-Benjamin Sehic (15-Milos Planic, 72), 4-Haris Hajdarevic, 7-Armin Bijedic (10-Semir Smajlagic, 54), 11-Milan Kanostrevac (14-Nikola Bjelos, 61), 18-Dzevad Pracic; 9-Nikola Popovac
Subs Not Used: 8-Lazar Babic, 12-Marko Terzic, 13-Dejan Kljaic, 16-Bojan Tausan
Head Coach: Zoran Erbez

Stats Summary: USA / Sarajevo Select

Misconduct Summary:

Officials:

**PLEASE NOTE – Game was 80 minutes**