BRADENTON, Fla. (Jan. 16, 2020)—The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team took down Mexico 2-0 in the first game of new head coach Anthony Hudson’s tenure. Midfielder Cole Bassett netted two first-half goals for the USA at IMG Academy, both teed-up nicely by forward Cameron Harper.
The USA faces Mexico again on Saturday, Jan. 18 to cap off Hudson’s first training camp in charge of the U.S.
The USA’s opportunistic press sprung the first goal of the game in the 20th minute after Mexico had created the first real chances of the game. Harper won the ball and played to Bassett near the top of the box. The Colorado Rapids midfielder tried to play to forward Gianluca Busio on the left wing, but the pass was deflected back to him. He spun around a Mexico defender and fired a shot past another to the right side of the net for the game’s opening goal.
The U.S. front line and attacking midfield continued its nice interplay throughout the first half, and the USA doubled its advantage in the 37th with a nifty run from Harper. Coming down the right wing, he wheeled around a Mexican defender and drove to the end-line before striking a hard-hit ball to the near post. Bassett was there to meet it and hammered it home to put the U.S. up 2-0.
Hudson shuffled the U.S. line-up in the second half, making a total of eight changes. Goalkeeper Chituru Odunze preserved starter David Ochoa’s clean sheet, snuffing out a few Mexico opportunities from close range down the stretch. Mexico pushed to get on the board following a 74th-minute red card to U.S. defender Nathan Harriel, but the USA held strong to secure the victory.
-U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team Match Report-
Match: U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team vs. Mexico
Date: Jan. 16, 2020
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: IMG Academy; Bradenton, Fla.
Kick-off: 3 p.m. ET
Weather:
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 2 0 2
MEX 0 0 0
USA – Cole Bassett 20th minute
USA – Cole Bassett (Cameron Harper) 37
Lineups:
USA: 1-David Ochoa (capt.) (22-Chituru Odunze, 46); 2-Ian Hoffmann (16-Nathan Harriel, 73), 14-Jacob Akanyirige, 5-Leonardo Sepulvdea, 3-Leon Flach (4-Nico Benalcazar, 73); 13-Aidan Morris (8-Marcelo Palomino, 62), 6-Cole Bassett, 10-Thomas Roberts (23-Blake Malone, 78); 7-Cameron Harper (18-Jordan Bender, 78), 20-Matko Milijevic (9-Stefan Stojanovic, 62), 11-Gianluca Busio (17-Dante Sealy, 62)
Subs Not Used: 15-Kurowskybob Pierre, 18-Jordan Bender, 19-Marlon Vargas, 23-Blake Malone
Head Coach: Anthony Hudson
MEX: 1-Victor Mendoza; 2-Ramon Juarez (capt.), 3-Victor Guzman (13-Jose Castillo, 73), 14-Santiago Roman (5-Oscar Villa, 46), 4-Christopher Torres ; 6-Santiago Naveda (16-Alejandro Andrade, 73) , 8-Amaury Garcia (15-Joel Gomez, 80), 10-Ricardo Monreal (11-Ettson Ayon, 46) ; 7-Gerson Vazquez (18-Julian Vazquez, 46) , 9-Eduardo Banda (19-Emanuel Montejano, 46) , 17-Diego Medina (20-Juan Gamboa, 73)
Subs Not Used: 12-Fernando Tapia, 14-Santiago Roman
Disciplinary Summary:
USA – Leonardo Sepulveda (caution) 19th minute
MEX – Gerson Vazquez (caution) 45
MEX – Amaury Garcia (caution) 60
USA – Cameron Harper (caution) 66
USA – Nathan Harriel (sent off) 74
Statistical Summary: USA / MEX
Shots: 4 / 9
Shots on Goal: 2 / 6
Saves: 6 / 0
Corner Kicks: 3 / 8
Fouls: 15 / 17
Offside: 0 / 0
Officials:
Referee: Alexandra Billeter
Assistant Referee 1: Miguel Martes
Assistant Referee 2: Juarez Lago