Former U.S. U18 Men’s National Team and Santa Cruz Breakers forward Lynden Gooch is shedding up defenses in England.

Lynden Gooch

The attacker has recorded a goal, an assist, or drawn a penalty kick in five of the last six games for Sunderland in Barclays Premier League U18 action. Gooch’s top performance came two weeks ago when he led the Blackcats to a 3-1 win over Leicester.

The Northern California teenager scored one goal and set up the other two in the win. Sunderland U18 head coach Carlton Fairweather spoke highly of the American following the victory.

“It’s about learning different positions for Lynden [Gooch], who has a good understanding so hopefully that will help him develop as a player,” Fairweather told the club’s website. “Now he is scoring goals as well as obviously being involved in setting them up, and that’s excellent. It will only help him as a player and a person and he is helping the team as well.”

Gooch signed a three-year deal with Sunderland in January 2012 after a few trials, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. He also trained with West Ham prior to signing with the Blackcats.

He joined the club in June of last year and is now enjoying his best spell of play over the past two months with three goals, three assists, and two penalty kicks drawn in six games.

The teenager has options outside of U.S. Soccer though, as Ireland called Gooch up in November of 2012 for a camp in Switzerland and a pair of games. Gooch qualifies for the Irish via his mother.

Since then, Gooch has accepted a call up from the U.S. and appeared over the summer with the U.S. U18 MNT at the 2013 Northern Ireland Milk Cup. Gooch started all three games for the U.S. during the competition.

Born in 1995, Gooch is next in line for the U20 MNT, which is scheduled for a camp in November in Europe – the first for the new cycle. While nothing official has been stated about his involvement in the camp, it will be difficult for head coach Tab Ramos and his staff to overlook the recent run of form from the American with Sunderland.

U.S. U17 MNT travels to Spain

The U.S. U17 Men’s National Team traveled to Spain last week for three games. Originally, the trip was scheduled for a youth international tournament, but the event was pushed to a later date and USSF elected to keep the trip as scheduled.

The U17s faced Las Rozas CF, Real Madrid, and Rayo Vallecano. The U17s finished the trip with a win and two draws. LA Galaxy Academy forward led the team offensively with three goals, which all came in the4-2 win against Rayo Vallecano in the final game.

Wright played primarily on the right wing during the three games after drawing mixed reviews as the center forward during the previous tournament in Mexico City over summer.

Christian Pulisic scored two goals on the trip with one in each of the draws against Las Rozas and Real Madrid. Pulisic scored the second goal in the 2-2 draw against Las Rozas with Monterrey’s Joe Gallardo netting the opener. The PA Classics midfielder found the back of the net in the 1-1 draw against Real Madrid.

FC Dallas’ Alejandro Zendejas scored the other goal of the event off an assist from Wright, which capped the win over Rayo Vallecano.

The trip was the first for this age group under the U17 MNT moniker, and the first since the 1998s enrolled in the Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida with everyday training under the guidance of head coach Richie Williams.

The U17s next test comes in December at the Nike Friendlies in Florida. 

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