CARSON, Calif. — The U.S. U15 Boys National Team, consisting of players born in 1999, had their first scrimmages of the October camp on Wednesday at the StubHub Center. The ending message was a positive one with a win over the Chivas USA U16 squad and a draw against the Chivas USA U15 team.

Head coach Hugo Perez split the 30-player camp roster into two teams with the majority of the regular faces with this youth national team playing in the later game against older opposition.

U.S. U15 BNT 2-0 Chivas USA U16

The U.S. had a couple of good shots at taking the early lead that started with Jose Carranza’s shot off the post after only a minute. The U.S. had the best chance to take the lead when Nicholas Taitague was brought down in the box in the 22nd minute. Center back Kyle Gruno’s penalty kick was saved to keep the squads on level terms in the first half.

The youth national team found its break through six minutes into the second half when Adolfo Trujillo headed Taitague’s cross into the back of the net. U.S. doubled the lead shortly afterward when left back Edwin Lara played a perfect ball across the middle that substitute Lucas Del Rosario hammered home.

Chivas USA had a couple of chances on the game – goalkeeper Eric Lopez did well to push away any danger – but could not find the final touch to get a goal on the board and really threaten the U.S. lead.

The U.S. returns to training on Thursday, and will scrimmage again on Saturday against Crossfire Premier and Real Salt Lake – Arizona.  

U.S. U15 BNT Starting XI:

Eric Lopez; Antonio Nava, Mckay Eves, Kyle Gruno, Edwin Lara; Juan Pablo Torres, Jose Carranza, Jonathan Gonzalez; Nicholas Taitague, Jeanpaul Marin, Adolfo Trujillo

U.S. U15 BNT 2-2 Chivas USA U15

Jesus Nunez came on in the second half and made an instant impact. The LA Galaxy Academy winger had a goal and an assist off the bench to help the U.S. to a 2-2 draw in the opening game on Wednesday.

Chivas USA struck first with a tally early in the second half on a quality finish from the corner of the box after a giveaway in the midfield by the U.S.

The U15 BNT answered on a dubious penalty kick after a cross by Ernesto Espinoza took a slight deflection and hit off the hand of a Chivas USA defender. Nunez converted the penalty kick to put the squads on level terms.

Chivas USA looked like it had the game-winner late in the match when Francisco Gutierrez slotted his shot home after dribbling around the U.S. goalkeeper.

However, Nunez answered nearly immediately. The winger strolled down the right side and played a beautiful pass in for Omir Fernandez who put it over the shoulder of the goalkeeper for the game-tying goal.

U.S. U15 BNT Starting XI:

Carlos Avilez; Cody Sundquist, Angel Uribe, Almir Kurtanovic, Carlos Alvarado; Raul Aguilera Jr., Luis Carrillo, Leonel Alvarenga; Omir Fernandez, Luis Arreola, Wilterlynd Inalien

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