U20 MNT Finishes in Fourth at Milk Cup

by Travis Clark

July 26, 2012

The U.S. U20 Men’s National Team fell 4-3 against Chile at Riada Stadium in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. Despite taking the lead twice and controlling most of the game, the U.S. finished in fourth place at the annual tournament.

U.S. defender Walker Zimmerman opened the scoring in the first minute when Chile fouled forward Victor Pineda. Midfielder Benji Joya took the free kick from 30 yards out along the left side. Joya served the ball to the far right corner for a crashing Zimmerman, who lofted his header over Chile goalkeeper Dario Melo.

Chile equalized shortly after the start of the first half when Nicolas Castillo was taken down in the box. Castillo converted the penalty in the 49th minute.

In the 65th minute, Joya put the U.S. ahead once more. He received the ball on a fast break along the right side and quickly cut it inside toward the top left corner of the box. Beating his defender, Joya fired a low, hard shot into the left side of the goal.

The U.S. lead was short-lived, however, as Chile responded with a goal just one later. On the restart after the U.S. goal, Chile sailed a ball into the right corner of the box. Angelo Henriquez came away with the ball during the scramble, firing a quick shot into the left side of the goal.

Chile added another in the 68th minute, taking advantage of a quick break down the right side. Martin Rodriguez played the ball to the right corner of the box with a low, hard pass that Henriquez ran onto, firing a high shot into the center of the goal.

Castillo also tallied a second goal, collecting a balled lofted in from the center circle just outside the top of the box in the 70th minute. He took a quick side step to beat his defender and sent his shot into the right side of the goal.

Pineda pulled one back for the U.S. in the 82nd minute, converting a penalty kick after forward Daniel Cuevas was taken down inside the box.

U.S. U20 Men’s National Team Match Report

Match: U.S. U-20 MNT v. Chile
Date: July 26, 2012
Competition: 2012 Milk Cup
Venue: Riada Stadium; Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Kickoff: 1 p.m. (8 a.m. ET)
Attendance: 200
Weather: 64 degrees, sunny

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 2 3
CHI 0 4 4

USA – 15-Walker Zimmerman (8-Benji Joya) 1^st minute
CHI – 18-Nicolas Castillo 49
USA – 8-Benji Joya 65
CHI – 9-Angelo Henriquez 66
CHI – 9-Angelo Henriquez (8-Martin Rodriguez) 68
CHI – 18-Nicolas Castillo 70
USA – 7-Victor Pineda 82

Lineups:
USA: 1-Cody Cropper (capt.); 2-Boyd Okwuonu (4-Eric Miller, 79), 15-Walker Zimmerman, 14-Holden Fender, 3-Juan Pablo Ocegueda; 8-Benji Joya, 6-Wil Trapp, 12-Mikey Lopez (10-Collin Martin, 69); 7-Victor Pineda (13-Dillon Serna, 88), 11-Daniel Cuevas 9-Alfred Koroma (17-Mario Rodriguez, 73)
Subs not used: 5-AJ Cochran, 16-Dan Metzger, 18-Kendall McIntosh
Head Coach: Tab Ramos

CHI: 1-Dario Melo; 13-Cesar Fuentes (7-Michael Contreras, 60), 4-Valber Huerta, 3-Diego Gonzalez, 2-Cristobal Vergara; 14-Rodrigo Urena, 8-Oscar Hernandez, 6-Martin Rodriguez, 5-Igor Lishnovsky; 10-Nicolas Maturana (9-Angelo Henriquez, 46), 18-Nicolas Castillo
Subs not used: None
Head Coach: Fernando Carvallo

Stats Summary: USA / CHI
Shots: 14 / 8
Shots on Goal: 7 / 5
Saves: 1 / 4
Corner Kicks: 6 / 3
Fouls: 18 / 17
Offside: 1 / 5

Misconduct Summary:
CHI – 18-Nicolas Castillo (caution) 60th minute
CHI – 15-Cristian Cuevas (caution) 77