DALLAS — The U.S. U20 side opened the Dallas Cup with a 1-0 victory over Monterrey’s U-20s.

The Americans grew into the game, finding their rhythm in the second half after spending just four days together leading up to the tournament.

“I thought it was a perfect scenario for us the way the game turned out,” U.S. coach Tab Ramos told TopDrawerSoccer. “We didn’t play well at all the first half. I liked our second half, to be honest, I thought we played well. We didn’t play at all the first half, but I think these are the sorts of experience that we need. Because we came out I thought a little flat, we couldn’t connect passes.”

Jeremy Ebobisse opened the scoring in the 30th minute. The Duke forward got on the end of a pass from Brooks Lennon and got around goalkeeper Santiago Ramirez. His finish into the now-vacant net was enough to see the Americans take the lead.

“It was a good team build-up,” Ebobisse said of the goal. “It was kind of the first time in the game where we striung together four, five, six passes in the attacking half. So as we did that, spaces were opening up, and I was able to get on the end of a really good pass.”

Eryk Williamson missed an opportunity to double the advantage in the 42nd minute. With Ramirez stuck in traffic after coming off his line to try to collect a corner kick, Williamson had a good look but put it over the crossbar.

Monterrey started the second half strong, with Angel Lopez attempting to loop a header home from a corner kick. The ball ended up safely atop goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann’s net.

The Americans were back in the hunt for a goal shortly after, when Ramirez again made a journey out of the mouth of goal, losing out on a footrace with Ebobisse and continuing to apply pressure as the forward took the ball wide outside the box. His cross was too high, and the U.S. couldn’t punish los Rayados.

Monterrey took advantage of its time together late, pushing forward and threatening the U.S. lead with a penalty shout in the 86th minute that went unanswered and a free kick into the mixer that eventually was cleared a minute later. Monterrey won yet another free kick in the 88th minute that Klinsmann punched away and the defenders locked down on the Monterrey player who retrieved the rebound.

Despite the late charge from Monterrey, the Americans finished with the victory with a Miles Robinson iving header deep into stoppage time pouring water on the last Monterrey move.

“Although they had more possession toward the end, they didn’t really have more possession in dangerous areas, they didn’t really have that many shots,” Ramos said. “I don’t recall Jonathan having to make big saves in this game, and so that was good. I’m very happy with that part of it.”

Tigres top Everton in physical affair

Tigres’ U-19s took advantage early and held on for the victory in a physical battle with Everton’s U-18 side.

Forward Luis Cruz got on the end of a long ball and slid around the onrushing goalkeeper before slotting into the empty net in the 14th minute.

While Everton had a number of scoring opportunities, their chances diminished when defender Josef Yarney was sent off for a heavy tackle in midfield.

Despite being down to 10 men, the Toffees continued to push and nearly had a breakthrough in the 77th minute. Delial Brewster came down the left side with possession and played a low cross to Nathan Broadhead, but the forward’s point-blank shot was saved by the hand of Sergio Silva.

The match continued to sputter, with fouls peppered throughout the final period, but Tigres ultimately opened their Dallas Cup campaign with a Bracket B victory. The Mexican side faces Real Salt Lake on Monday, with Everton playing Japanese outfit Kyoto Sanga.

Fluminense handles FCD

The day opened with Brazilian side Fluminense getting a narrow win against FC Dallas. Guilherme Eulalio de Oliveir held off two FCD defenders on the right-hand side before passing it to the Brazilian club’s No. 9 Felipe Sampaio for the goal.

Despite the loss, there were a number of good performances from FC Dallas, with playmaker Weston McKennie creating a number of chances and Gustavo Lopez starting well up top for the local team.