Last minute goal lifts U17 MNT over Turkey

December 3, 2011

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (Dec. 2, 2011)—The U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team beat Turkey in a scrappy 2-1 win at the Premier Sports Campus on the strength of a goal from Tyler Turner and an 88th minute winner from Junior Flores.

With the win, the U.S. is now the tournament leader based on goals scored. The USA and Brazil are tied at four points apiece after both teams recorded a win and a tie in the first two games. The two will face off in the final match of the 2011 Nike International Friendlies on Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on FOX Soccer, and fans can also follow along on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and Twitter @ussoccer_ynt.

The match started off at a measured pace, with Turkey only getting one glance at goal in the sixth minute, but it was not enough to test U.S. goalkeeper Evan Louro.

The U.S. scored on the first real chance of the match for either team from a corner kick in the 18th minute. Jorge Calix fed a short pass to Junior Flores, who lobbed the ball into the box where a host of players looked to attack the ball. U.S. captain Tyler Turner lurked at the back post, the centerback heading the ball down and into the net as Turkey goalkeeper Mehmet Goktug Bakirbas scrambled for a touch.

Danya Kafai led another U.S. attack after the goal, sending a well-placed cross to Calix in the 20th minute and six minutes later efforting at goal on his own.

Turkey was reduced to 10 men in the 40th minute after Yusuf Selim Sahin was sent off for a two-footed, studs up challenge on Flores.

Down a goal and a player and with nothing to lose, Turkey adopted a more adventurous approach to open the second half that immediately paid dividends. In the 47th minute, the team powered into the U.S. end. Mustafa Batuhan Altinas made his way in front of goal, pivoted and fired into the near top corner for the equalizer.

Stunned back into life by the goal, the U.S. responded well in search of the win, recording twice as many shots in the second half than Turkey managed in the entire game. In the 67th minute, Corey Baird flicked a nifty backheel to DeAndre Robinson who shot off target, and then Flores tried his luck in the next minute.

Turkey did have one great chance one minute later when Anil Capkin and Mert Ozturk linked up for a series of quick one-touch passes down the right flank, but they couldn’t finish off the plaly as the shot from Ozturk went wide of the goal.

The U.S. turned up the heat again in the 76th minute and was relentless for the next four minutes. Robinson led the way, firing a rocket over the crossbar, and then Flores attempted a crafty bicycle kick that rose above the bar. In the 79th minute, the two connected for another shot that forced Demir into his second save of the game.

The USA’s pursuit of the game-winner finally bore fruit two minutes from time. Flores sealed the victory and the U.S.’s place at the top of the group with a low strike from close range in the 88th minute that smartly did not test the imposing Demir in the air. The ussoccer.com Man of the Match started the play with some clever footwork in the midfield before sending the ball out wide to Shaquell Moore, whose cross eventually found the head of Wesley Wade. The striker who scored the tying goal against France in the first match then teed up Flores.

A victory for either team in the USA-Brazil game would crown the champion of the Nike International Friendlies. France meets Turkey at 2 p.m. ET at the Premier Sports Complex, with the French still in contention for the title.

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

Match: U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team vs. Turkey U-17 Men’s National Team

Date: Dec. 2, 2011

Competition: 2011 Nike International Friendlies

Venue: Premier Sports Campus; Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET

Attendance: 1,859

Weather: 68 degrees, cool

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

USA 1 1 2

TUR 0 1 1

USA – Tyler Turner (Junior Flores) 19th minute

TUR – Mustafa Batuhan Altintas 47

USA – Junior Flores (Wesley Wade) 88

Lineups:

USA: 18-Evan Louro; 4-Shaquell Moore, 2-Conor Donovan, 6-Tyler Turner, 3- John Requejo, Jr.; 7-Rubio Rubin (9-Wesley Wade, 55), 14-Steven Echevarria, 10-Junior Flores (20-Christopher Lema, 90), 15-Jorge Calix (8-Angel Heredia, 54); 13-Corey Baird, 19-Danya Kafai (11-DeAndre Robinson, 61)

Subs Not Used: 1-Paul Christensen, 5-Guyllain Kabala, 12- Adonis Amaya, 16-Kevin Politz, 17-Dembakwi Yomba

Head coach: Wilmer Cabrera

TUR: 12-Mehmet Goktug Bakirbas; 7-Anil Capkin, 14-Melih Can Yagci (capt.), 4-Mehdi Akgul, 15-Mahmuthan Samet Acar (3-Umut Can Ince, 36); 6-Serdar Bingol; 17-Ismail Kose (20-Aziz Ceylan, 82), 8-Mert Ozturk (2-Cahit Enis Katipogl, 66), 18-Yusuf Selim Sahin, 11-Berk Yildiz; 9-Mustafa Batuhan Altintas

Subs Not Used: 1-Anil Demir, 5-Alim Harlak, 10-Semih Islemecioglu,13-Safa Altuntas, 16-Muhammet Rasit Sahingoz, 19-Ramazan Civele

Head coach: Mehmet Hacioglu

Stats Summary: USA / TUR

Shots: 8 / 3

Shots on Goal: 6 / 1

Saves: 0 / 4

Corner Kicks: 4 / 1

Fouls: 10 / 9

Offside: 4 /3

Misconduct Summary:

TUR – Selim Shahin (sent off) 40th minute

TUR - Mert Ozturk (caution) 48