U18 MNT falls 3-1 in final European friendly

by U.S. Soccer

September 17, 2012

The U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team conceded two late goals and lost 3-1 against Club Brugge U-19s in the final match of its European-based training camp.

The U.S. previously defeated Feyenoord and Borussia Dortmund academy teams as well as earning a 4-2 win against the Netherlands U-18 MNT, before falling to Club Brugge.

Despite giving up an early goal in the 11th minute to Club Brugge midfielder Tom Paquet, the U.S. responded well to tally the equalizer just six minutes later.

Brugge took the lead after U.S. goalkeeper Zack Steffen made a save, but saw the rebound fall to Paquet, who quickly settled the ball and placed it in the left side of the goal. The U.S. quickly answered as Chivas USA homegrown player Marco Delgado served a free kick into the box that found the head of defender Michael Amick making a run toward the goal. Amick’s header was well-timed and well-struck into the left side of the goal.

The U.S. equalizer was the second time during the training camp that Delgado and Amick combined to score a goal. Amick bagged the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund following a cross during the run of play from Delgado.

With less than 10 minutes remaining in the match, the U.S. conceded two goals off of corner kicks to allow Club Brugge to take a 3-1 lead. In the 84th minute, a corner kick was allowed to settle in the center of the box as Paquet latched onto it and scored his second goal of the match. Five minutes later, another corner kick was deflected in the box as the U.S. struggled to clear and Gunnlaugur Birgisson was able to chip a shot over Steffen’s head.

The U.S. U-18 MNT finished the training camp with a 3-1-0 record, outscoring its opponents 8-5 over the course of four matches.

-U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team Match Report-

Match: U.S. U-18 MNT v. Club Brugge U-19
Date: Sept. 16, 2012
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: VV Gilze; Gilze, Netherlands
Kickoff: 1 p.m. (7 a.m. ET)
Attendance: 300
Weather: 62 degrees

Scoring Summary:    1          2          F
USA                            1          0          1
BRU                            1          2          3

BRU – Tom Paquet                                        11th minute
USA – Michael Amick (Marco Delgado)      17
BRU – Tom Paquet (Aaron Dhondt)                 84
BRU – Gunnlaugur Birgisson                           89

Lineups:
USA: 1-Zack Steffen; 3-Suliaman Dainkeh, 5-Michael Amick, 4-Trevor Haberkorn (15-Jalen Markey, 88), 13-Jacori Hayes; 8-Marco Delgado, 6-Kellyn Acosta (capt.), 2-Travis Wannemuehler; 11-Zach Pfeffer, 9-Benji Lopez, 10-Piakai Henkel (16-Romain Gall, 46)
Subs not used: 12-Ethan Horvath, 14-Dylan Greenberg
Head Coach: Javier Perez

BRU: 1-Sven Dhoest; 5-Gauthier Libbrecht, 4-Alexander Embrechts, 3-Nicolas Vandewalle, 2-Gianini Haeck (12-Pieter Haeck, 53) (14-Thibaut Muylle, 82); 8-Bram Leroy (15-Gunnlaugur Birgisson, 30), 6-Tom Paquet, 9-Hakim Borahsasar (18-Anthony Pulcinelli, 79); 11-Boli Bolingoli, 10-Aaron Vanfleteren (17-Gauthier Maebe, 69), 7-Michiel Clyncke (16-Aaron Dhondt, 69)
Subs not used: 13-Sven Delarbre
Head Coach: Bjorn De Neve

Stats Summary: USA / BRU
Shots: 9 / 15
Shots on Goal: 4 / 7
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 5 / 8
Fouls: 17 / 22
Offside: 6 / 4

Misconduct Summary:
None