SARASOTA, Florida - Wow.

Now that was some fun soccer.

Such was the prevailing thought after the US U17 Men’s National Team played its second friendly at the US Soccer Development Academy Spring Showcase on Saturday at Sarasota Polo Club.

The match played out like a highlight reel and ended with the US taking a 5-3 thriller over a Development Academy Select Team.

The US team set an early tone of fast-paced play by pressuring the ball and letting its individual talent make plays.  

Dominick Sarle was one of the culprits with his quick moves and clean ballskills. He created some early 1v1 opportunities and put pressure on standout defenders like Torey James McGraw, a big strong marker who had a good match.  

Dustin Correa put the US up 1-0  by beating two defenders and placing a left-footed shot in for a goal.  

But the Select team didn’t surrender, and Christian Velez came up with one of the top goals of the match to tie things up. Taking a ball that bounced a foot above his head, Velez leaped and volleyed a rocket in the net from 20 yards out.

Colorado Rush AS Monaco attacker Zach Foxhoven, of the Select team, was one of the best players on the field with a complete package of size, speed and skill. He made it 2-1 after a run out and a chip in goal.  

The US scored two straight goals, the second of which came in the second half where Sebastian Lletget sent a free kick in the box that was finished by Sarle.

Lletget showed off his natural goal scoring ability later in the match when he blasted a 25-yarder that whipped past the keeper for the game’s final score.

For Lletget, the play was proof that all of his recent hard work has been paying off.

“In training we usually practice a lot on our shooting, and I always stay after because I feel like I lag off when it comes to shooting,” he said. “I finally tried to take a shot outside the box and it finally came. I was really happy for that.”  

The match’s most eventful moment came from the Select squad’s Joseph Schmid. After the speeder striker got behind the defense to tie the game at 3-3, he pulled his jersey over his face and met his FC Delco teammates on the sideline, where 20 or so players leapt around in celebration.

“Prior to the game I was talking to my teammates and they said ‘if you score you have to come over and celebrate with us,’” Schmid said. “It was a great experience to play against these guys, they’re the best of the best and any time you have a chance to play you take it. It’s hard to keep up with them but it was fun.”

For the second half, the US subbed in players like Zachary Herold, Sean Davis, Jared Watts, Lletget, Nicholas Palodichuk and Jack McInerney. On offense, the group wasn’t as explosive, but they worked together to wear down the Select defense.

McInerney is an opportunistic offensive player who always seems to wind up around the goal. Herold is quick with the ball and always a threat and Watts is a tall and dependable marker.

“We have our goal to make the World Cup and do well - and that’s it,” said midfielder Carlos Martinez, a super dangerous midfielder who matches skill with hard work. “Obviously this was a great day to play soccer. To play the guys who are trying to take our spots was fun. Maybe we underestimated their team a little – it’s natural. In the second half we turned it up and put them away.”

U17 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER

Earl Edwards (Nomads SC); Emilio Orozco (Rampage FC); Tyler Polak (Capital Soccer Academy); Perry Kitchen (Chicago Magic); Erik Stephenson (San Diego Surf); Boyd Okwuonu (Tulsa Thunder); Victor Pineda (Chicago Fire); Carlos Martinez (Wilmington Jr.); Soony Saad (Vardar SC); Dominick Sarle (BW Gottschee); Dustin Corea (East Side FC); Zachary Herold (West Pines United); Sean Davis (Matchfit Academy); Jared Watts (North Meck SC); Sebastian Lletget (Santa Clara Sporting); Nicholas Palodichuk (Washington Premier FC); Jack McInerney (Cobb SC); Jonathan Kempin (Kansas City Wizards).

DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY SELECT TEAM

Adam Zepeda (Arsenal FC); Billy McGuinness (Chicago Fire); Christian Velez (Miami FC Kendall); Mathias Cuadrado (LAFC Chelsea); Frank Saunders (Virginia Rush AS Monaco); Torey James McGraw (Mustang SC); Victor Vasquez (Chivas USA); Zach Foxhoven (Colorado Rush AS Monaco); A.J. Corrado (Carmel United SC); Jimmy Petruccelli (Seacoast United); Javon Bostic (Clearwater Chargers); Joseph Schmid (FC Delco); Scott Thompson (PDA); Manny Guzman (Chicago Fire); Victor Chavez (Real So Cal); Marquez Fernandez (Baltimore Bays Chelsea); Reed McKenna (Nomads SC); Charlie Lyon (Chicago Fire).

 
Click here for more Development Academy Showcase coverage.

Click here for video highlights from the Development Academy Showcase.