U-17 MNT Tops Croatia in Pair of International Friendlies

ZAGREB, Croatia (April 11, 2014) - The U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team recorded two 1-0 victories against the Croatia U-17 national team to cap off its latest trip to Eastern Europe, stretching its current unbeaten streak in international competition to 11 matches in the process.

Fresh off winning the Josip Katalinski International Tournament in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina, forward Elijah Rice grabbed the winning goal in the 16th minute of the U-17 MNT's first game against Croatia on  April 8. The goal, Rice's second of the current cycle against international competition, was set up by defender Tanner Dietrich.

In the USA's second meeting with Croatia on April 10, defender Eric Calvillo assisted Christian Pulisic's 44th-minute match-winner, while goalkeeper Kevin Silva helped the defense earn a second straight clean sheet and third in five matches on the trip. Silva was also in goal for the U-17 MNT's 5-0 win against Montenegro to open the Josip Katalinski Tournament seven days prior. 

Pulisic finished the trip as the team's second leading goal-scorer from his midfield position with four tallies, while forward Haji Wright netted seven, including four in the win against Montenegro.

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

Match: United States U-17 Men’s National Team vs. Croatia
Date: April 8, 2014
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Stadium SRC Zapresic
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. UTC¹ (10:30 a.m. ET)
Weather: 60 degrees, partly cloudy

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

USA – Elijah Rice (Tanner Dieterich)        16th minute

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

CRO: 1- Ivan Nevistic;  3- Matej Hedecek, 6- Vinko Soldo (14- Marin Karamarko, 70), 5- Maksim Olujic, 2- Marko Prugovecki; 4- Borna Borovec, 8- Luka Pasaricek, 10- Neven Durasek (16- Adrian Zenko, 41); 7- Josip Brekalo, 9- Karlo Igor Majic (20- Ivan Markota, 41), 11- Davor Lovren
Subs Not Used: 12- Adrian Semper, 13- Silvio Malkoc, 15- Ivan Blatancic, 17- Ivan Delic, 18- Petar Rubic, 19- Zdravko Simonovic
Head Coach: Luka Pavlovic

Stats Summary: USA / CRO
n/a

Misconduct Summary:
CRO – Vinko Soldo (caution)                    24th minute
CRO – Marko Prugovecki (caution)         42
CRO – Matej Hudecek (caution)              53
CRO – Maksim Olujic (caution)                 79

Officials:
Referee: Marko Matoc
Assistant Referee 1: Jerko Crncic
Assistant Referee 2: Dalibor Meic
Fourth Official: Tomislav Bionda

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

Match: United States U-17 Men’s National Team vs. Croatia
Date: April 10, 2014
Competition: International Friendly
Venue GNK Dinamo (Field #3)
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. UTC¹ (10:30 a.m. ET)
Weather: 60 degrees, sunny

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

USA – Christian Pulisic (Eric Calvillo)       43rd minute

Lineups:
USA: 1-Kevin Silva; 3-Edwin Lara (17-Danny Barbir, 56), 5-Hugo Arellano, 4-Alexis Velela, 2-Matt Olosunde; 6-Eric Calvillo, 8-Luca De La Torre, 10-Christian Pulisic; 21-McKinze Gaines, 7-Haji Wright, 20-Alex Zendejas
Subs not used:9-Joe Gallardo, 11-Pierre Da Silva, 12-Will Pulisic, 13-John Nelson, 14-Tyler Adams, 15-Tanner Dieterich, 16-Thomas McCabe, 18-George Braima, 19-Elijah Rice, 23-Weston McKennie
Head Coach: Richie Williams

CRO: 1-Adrian Semper; 3-Matej Hudecek, 6-Vinko Soldo, 5-Maksim Olujic, 2-Marko Prugovecki (19-Zdravko Simonovic, 70); 4-Borna Borovec (17-Ivan Delic, 78), 8-Luka Pasaricek (15-Ivan Blatancic, 70), 10-Adrian Zenko; 7-Josip Brekalo, 9-Nikola Moro (16-Karlo Igor Majic, 56), 11-Davor Lovren (13-Silvio Malkoc , 56)
Subs Not Used: 12-Ivan Nevistic, 14-Marin Karamarko, 18-Petar Rubic, 20-Ivan Markota, 21-Neven Durasek
Head Coach: Luka Pavlovic

Stats Summary: USA / CRO
n/a 

Misconduct Summary:
CRO – Borna Borovec (caution)                 61st minute
USA – McKinze Gaines (caution)               64
USA – Eric Calvillo (caution)                       76

Officials:
Referee: Fran Jovic
Assistant Referee 1: Dario Vrabec
Assistant Referee 2: Krunoslav Ambrinac
Fourth Official: Davor Bertol 

**PLEASE NOTE –Game was 80 minutes**