LAKEWOOD RANCH, FLORIDA – The U.S. U17 Men’s National Team defeated Australia 2-1 on Sunday to assume control of the top spot in the standings at the 2014 Nike International Friendlies. Brazil and England played to a 2-2 draw earlier in the day.

Sunday’s results set up an exciting encounter on Tuesday, the final day of the competition, between the U.S. and Brazil. A win or draw for the U.S. will give Richie Williams’ squad the title for the second consecutive season.

U.S. U17 Men’s National Team 2-1 Australia

The U.S. trotted out a lineup with only two returning starters from Friday’s 3-1 win over England. The nine new faces was an opportunity for players to gain experience on the international stage. 

“It’s all about getting guys experience and getting them international games,” Williams said. “When we go to qualifying and hopefully the World Cup, we’ll need all 20 on the roster so we have to get these guys games.”

Australia jumped out of the gates with pressure on the U.S. defense. The Socceroos were rewarded in the third minute when captain Joe Caletti’s strike found the back of the net.

The play started with a corner kick from the right side of the U.S. defense. Goalkeeper William Pulisic came off his line to punch the service away, but he only managed to get light contact on the ball. The clearance landed at Caletti’s feet. The defensive midfielder saw the goalkeeper out of his goal and did well to punch his shot through the traffic and into the empty net.

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The start nearly went from bad to worse for the U.S. when Australia forward Kosta Petratos picked the pocket of Hugo Arellano. Petratos was free on goal after the tackle, but he pushed his shot wide of the far post.

“It was a rough start,” Williams said. “Again, I think we were chasing the game a bit. It was rough going in the first 10 minutes or so. We got the goal back and then I thought we were okay. In the second half, I thought were solid. We didn’t give up many chances.”

The nerves settled for the U.S. and the attacking players began to see more of the ball after the opening 10 minutes. It was Pierre Da Silva with the individual brilliance to set up the equalizer.

Da Silva torched the Australia right back with a silky bit of footwork to send his defender to the left while he cut right and dribbled down the touchline. Da Silva had plenty of options with the ball on his foot and eight yards from goal. He picked out McKinze Gaines four yards from goal. Gaines tapped it into the open net.

Australia went back on the attack following the goal and tried to exploit some sloppy passing from the home side. Petratos ended up with the ball and turned at the defense with speed 40 yards from goal. The Australian forward juked one U.S. defender before he ripped a shot at goal. Pulisic did well to swallow up the shot and prevent any rebound.

Williams went to the bench at half time and brought on Daniel Barbir, Haji Wright, and Alejandro Zendejas for the second half.

The U.S. began to string together better passing sequences, but Australia still found chances on the break. Australian winger Peter Kekeris forced Pulisic into another save in the 58th minute.

Williams looked at the bench again in the 59th minute as the U.S. searched for the game-winner. The U17 MNT head coach brought on Luca de la Torre and Christian Pulisic, the hero from Friday’s game.

The coach’s strategy was rewarded 10 minutes later. De la Torre knocked down a pass from Haji Wright and then volleyed the shot home from 20 yards out for his first international goal. It would hold up to be the game-winner.

The U.S. had plenty of chances to add to the lead as the substitutes began to find the rhythm of the game in the second half.

Chiristan Pulisic stole the ball from an Australia defender and was free on goal with 40 yards to run. Pulisic’s angle was difficult and Australia goalkeeper Brandon Osipov did well with a kick save.

The ensuing corner kick went long and fell to Tanner Dieterich. The center back served it back into the box for Wright who tried to place his header at the near post. Osipov pushed it out for another corner kick.

Barbir was the one with the chance this time. The West Bromwich center back hit his header an inch too high and the shot went off the top of the crossbar for a goal kick.

U.S. continued to push the Australia defense late in hopes of putting the game away. De la Torre had a good chance with four minutes left after another corner kick. Osipov went low and blocked the shot, but it bounced perfectly to Barbir. The center back hit his header off the cross bar again.

The U.S. saw out the victory despite never hitting its stride during the 90 minutes.

“Overall, I think the rhythm was off a bit and it wasn’t our best game in terms of playing,” Williams said. “Good teams find ways to win even when it’s not their best days and I think that was the case today.”

Now, the U.S. moves onto another meeting with Brazil on Tuesday in the final game of the Nike International Friendlies.

“We are going to have to pick up our level of play even more after these games,” Williams said. “Brazil is always tough. This is will be the fifth time we’ve played them over the past year or so. We’re looking forward to it and trying to win the championship for the second consecutive year.”

U.S. Starting XI: William Pulisic; Logan Panchot, Tanner Dieterich, Hugo Arellano, Tyler Adams; Eric Calvillo, Thomas McCabe, Keegan Kelly; Pierre Da Silva, McKinze Gaines, Joshua Perez