U-23 MNT Falls to Egypt in First Game of 2020 Summer Olympic Cycle

SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR, Spain (March 22, 2019)—The U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team dropped a hard-fought match 2-0 to Egypt in its first international match of the 2020 Summer Olympic cycle. Egypt scored on either side of halftime, and while the USA had its chances, wasn’t able to find the back of the net. Twenty-two of the 23 players in camp saw the field during the game.

Both teams struggled to find their footing in the early-going. Egypt took the initiative on the attack for much of the first half, but the U.S. backline held strong. The Pharaohs attempted to build-up on the right side, but defenders Matt Olosunde and Donovan Pines did well to handle their forays into the attacking third. Goalkeeper JT Marcincowski was also called into action, making a nice save on a hard-rolling shot in the 39^th minute.

Egypt got on the board first off of a corner kick in the 40th minute. Mohamed Sadek launched a corner kick into the box that found the head of Mahamoud Saber. The U.S. attempted to clear it out of the box, but misplayed the ball and Ahmed Yaserr pounced on it just in front of the penalty spot, looping a ball over Marcincowski for the game’s opening goal.

The USA responded with a dangerous chance of their own off of a free kick just outside the box in the 42nd. Djordje Mihailovic put the ball on target, but Egypt ‘keeper Omar Radwan made the save.

U-23 MNT head coach Jason Kreis put out an entirely new XI for the second half, resulting in better possession and a number of dangerous runs in the final third, despite some aggressive, physical challenges from Egypt. The U.S. attack had more success breaking down the Pharaohs’ defense as the half wore on, with Josh Sargent providing a spark from the center forward spot as the U.S. earned a number of free kicks from threatening positions.

The U.S. looked to have a prime opportunity in the 78th, when a nice exchange with Julian Araujo freed up Sargent heading toward goal. The Egyptian defense closed down on the forward and brought him down in the box, though no penalty was awarded.

A few minutes later, Egypt extended its lead with a goal from Sadek in the 81st minute. Deep on the right wing, Nasser Mansy and Akram Tawfik traded passes to move the ball into the box, where Mansy chipped a looping pass across the front of the goal. There, Sadek sent it to the far post to double the Egyptian advantage.

The USA made a push for a goal in the game’s final minutes, when Jackson Yueill played Jerrermy Ebobisse on the run down the left wing. Ebobisse cut it back to Yueill near the top of the box, and while an Egypt defender deflected the pass, Yueill put a volley on net that was swallowed by the ‘keeper.

U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team Match Report

Match: U.S. Under-23 MNT vs. Egypt
Date: March 22, 2019
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Pinatar Arena; San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
Kick-off: 5:00 p.m. CET/12:00 p.m. ET
Weather: 60 degrees, partly cloudy

Scoring Summary:      1          2          F
USA                             0          0          0         
EGY                              1          1          2

EGY – Ahmed Yaser                                        40th minute
EGY – Mohamed Sadek (Nasser Mansy)        81

Lineups:
USA: 18-JT Marcincowski (22-Jonathan Klinsmann, 46), 2-Matt Olosunde (13-Julian Araujo, 46), 4-Donovan Pines (15-Miles Robinson, 46), 5-Cameron Carter-Vickers (capt.) (14-Lucas Pos, 46), 23-Marco Farfan (3-Antonee Robinson, 46), 6-Derrick Jones (20-Cameron Lindley, 46), 25-Keaton Parks (19-Eryk Williamson, 46), 8-Djordje Mihailovic (10-Jackson Yueill, 46), 7-Emmanuel Sabbi (21-Josh Perez, 46), 18-Haji Wright (9-Josh Sargent, 46), 11-Tim Weah (17-Jeremy Ebobisse, 46)
Subs not used: 16-Jack Maher
Head Coach: Jason Kreis

EGY: 1-Omar Radwan, 4-Osam Galal, 17-Ahmed Ramadan, 20-Mahmoud Saber (22-Enam Ashour, 90), 12-Akram Tawfik (3-Mohamed Ghanam, 90), 7-Karim Walid (13-Karim Elekary, 83), 8-Naser Maher (19-Ahmed Mostafa, 83), 14-Ahmed Hamdy (15-Omar Mohamed, 65), 18-Mohamed Sadek (21-Mohab Yasser, 83), 10-Ramadan Sobhy (capt.) (5-Mohamed Abdelsalam, 90), 11-Ahmed Yaser (9-Nasser Mansy, 65)
Subs not used: 2-Ahmed Youssef, 6-Mahmoud Maei, 16-Omar Salah, 23-Mostafa Shouber, 24-Yousseif Elgohary, 25-Mahmoud Yad
Head coach: Shawky Gharib

Statistical Summary: USA/EGY
Shots: 1 / 4
Shots on Goal: 1 / 4
Saves: 2 / 1
Corner Kicks: 1 / 2
Fouls: 13 / 12
Offsides: 2 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Donovan Pines (caution)                     33rd minute
EGY – Mahmoud Saber (caution)                   75
EGY – Akrarm Tawfik (caution)                       87

Officials:
Referee: Jorge Diaz Escudero