U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team vs. Barbados
2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship – Group F
IMG Academy; Bradenton, Fla.
4 p.m. ET (Univision Deportes Network, Concacaf Facebook)
May 4, 2019
U-17 MNT TAKES ON BARBADOS IN SECOND WCQ MATCH: Following a thrilling comeback win against Canada on Thursday night, the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team returns to action at the 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship on Saturday, May 4 against Barbados at 4 p.m. ET. The match-up marks the first-ever meeting between the USA and Barbados at this tournament.
Canada jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the USA’s opening match, but the resilient Red, White and Blue rallied in the second half to score three unanswered goals and secure three points. In Barbados’ opening match, the Bajan Tridents also showcased their resolve, finding an equalizer against Guatemala in the final minutes of play.
Saturday’s match will be broadcast on Univision Deportes Network and Concacaf Facebook. Follow the U-17 MNT throughout the tournament on Twitter. Instagram and Facebook.
USA GROUP F SCHEDULE
|
Date |
Match |
Kickoff (ET)/ Result |
Broadcast |
Venue |
|
May 2 |
USA vs. Canada |
W 3-2 |
Concacaf Facebook, UDN |
IMG Academy; Bradenton, Fla. |
|
May 4 |
USA vs. Barbados |
4 p.m. |
Concacaf Facebook, UDN |
IMG Academy; Bradenton, Fla. |
|
May 6 |
USA vs. Guatemala |
6 p.m. |
Concacaf Facebook, UDN |
IMG Academy; Bradenton, Fla. |
WATCH U-17 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING ON FACEBOOK AND UDN: All tournament matches will be streamed on Concacaf Facebook. A select number of matches, including all three of the USA’s group stage matches, will be broadcast on Univision Deportes Network.
GROUP F STANDINGS AND RESULTS:
|
Team |
W |
L |
D |
GD |
Pts. |
|
USA |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
Barbados |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Guatemala |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Canada |
0 |
1 |
0 |
-1 |
0 |
KICKING OFF WITH A COMEBACK: Against Canada in its Concacaf U-17 Championship opener, the USA faced an early deficit when the Canucks netted two goals in two minutes midway through the first half. The U-17 MNT roared back after the break, scoring three unanswered goals to lock up first place in Group F.
In the 49th minute, Gianluca Busio volleyed home a cross from Gio Reyna to get the USA on the board. It marked Busio’s fourth goal in his last eight games for club and country. Earlier this spring, he became the youngest player in MLS history to score in three consecutive league games.
The U-17s proceeded to score their own pair of quick goals, both off of set pieces. In the 63rd, a service via corner kick trickled out beyond the 18-yard-kine, where Kobe Hernandez hammered it towards goal. Deflected by a Canadian defender, the ball fell to Axel Alejandre, who sent the ball over the goalkeeper from short range to equalize for the USA. One of three players to appear in every U-17 training camp this cycle, Alejandre’s goal was his first in 15 U-17 appearances. Six minutes later, Reyna lined up for a free kick just outside the box and swung a dipping free kick towards the far post to put the USA on top for good. Goalkeeper Damian Las preserved the victory with two key saves in stoppage time.
Three players earned their first U-17 cap against Canada: Jack de Vries, Bryang Kayo and Daniel Leyva.
USA VS. BARBADOS NOTES:
U.S. U-17 MNT - 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship Roster by Position (Club; Hometown; U-17 Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (2): 1-Damian Las (Chicago Fire; Norridge, Ill.; 14/0), 12-Chituru Odunze (Vancouver Whitecaps FC/CAN; Calgary, Alta.; 4/0)
DEFENDERS (7): 4-Axel Alejandre (FC United; Chicago, Ill.; 15/1), 3-Adam Armour (North Carolina FC; Cary, N.C.; 12/0), 13-Mauricio Cuevas (LA Galaxy II; Los Angeles, Calif.; 2/0), 14-Tayvon Gray (New York City FC; Bronx, N.Y.; 10/0), 5-Kobe Hernandez (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.; 15/1), 2-Joe Scally (New York City FC; Lake Grove, N.Y.; 15/1), 15-John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; Chatham, N.J.; 3/0)
MIDFIELDERS (5): 7-Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City; Greensboro, N.C.; 8/3), 20-Gilbert Fuentes (San Jose Earthquakes; Tracy, Calif.; 14/0), 8-Bryang Kayo (D.C. United; Poolesville, Md.; 1/0), 6-Daniel Leyva (Seattle Sounders FC; Las Vegas, Nev.; 1/0), 16-Adam Saldana (LA Galaxy; Panorama City, Calif.; 17/1)
FORWARDS (6): 18-Jack de Vries (Philadelphia Union; Wayne, Pa.; 1/0), 17-Tyler Freeman (Sporting Kansas City; Shawnee, Kan.; 3/1), 19-Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez (Seattle Sounders FC; Kent, Wash.; 15/5), 9-Ricardo Pepi (North Texas SC; McKinney, Texas; 7/1), 10-Gio Reyna (Unattached; Bedford, N.Y.; 9/2), 11-Griffin Yow (D.C. United; Clifton, Va.; 7/3)
BARBADOS – 2019 CONCACAF U-17 CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER:
GOALKEEPERS (2): 1-Shaquan Phillips, 18-Brandon Sumpter
DEFENDERS (3): 6-Andre Applewhaite, 4-Lemar Catlyn, 17-Shaquanie Phillips
MIDFIELDERS (9): 16-Hashim Brewster, 2-Ethan Bryan, 20-Axel Funk, 15-Jaylan Gilkes, 12-Roshon Gittens, 8-Jahmali Hutson, 11-Asher Jnpierre, 13-Devonte Richards, 14-Nathan Skeete
FORWARDS (4): 10-Thierry Gale, 9-Abiola Grant, 7-Tajio James, 19-Jamol Williams
BAJAN TRIDENTS EARN LAST-GASP POINT: Barbados opened the tournament against Guatemala and fought to the final moments for a 1-1 draw that marked the nation’s second point all-time at the Concacaf U-17 Championship.
After a scoreless first half, Guatemala broke through in the 55th minute with a goal from Anderson Gaitan. Despite being outshot 20-6 in the game, Barbados continued to search for an equalizer. Its efforts were rewarded in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, as Thierry Gale found the back of the net to salvage a point for the island nation.
Three players come into the match against the USA with a yellow card: Jaylan Gilkes, Asher Jnpierre and Shaquanie Phillips.
RUN-UP TO FLORIDA: After a busy year of programming in 2018, the Concacaf Championship represents the U-17s’ third event of 2019. Last year, the team went 9-4-4 as it faced off against 11 different nations. The U-17 MNT’s last international competition came at the 2018 Nike International Friendlies last December. There, the USA went undefeated in three tightly contested games against Portugal, Turkey and Brazil.
Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2002 are eligible for the 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship, and head coach Raphael Wicky called in 16 players born in 2002 and four born in 2003.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT: This year marks the 19th Concacaf championship at this age level. Started in 1983, the regional competition sends four teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean to the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil.
The top three teams from each group qualify to the Round of 16. Four teams -- Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico -- advanced directly to the Round of 16 from a pre-tournament qualifying phase. The four tournament semifinalists earn berths to the U-17 World Cup.
In the group stage, the USA was drawn against Canada, Barbados and Guatemala. The top 16 teams in the Concacaf U-17 ranking were drawn into the main group stage, while the bottom 19 teams duked it in a pre-qualifying tournament for four Round of 16 berths.