US U-20 MNT in Milk Cup

[Zip_ME87]

U.S. U-20 MNT Tops China at the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland

July 27, 2010

BALLYMENA, Northern Ireland (July 26, 2010) -- The U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team opened its campaign at the prestigious Milk Cup with a 1-0 victory against China. Forward Omar Salgado scored the game's only goal in the 18th minute, while goalkeeper Zac MacMath and defenders Zarek Valentin, Perry Kitchen, Gale Agbossoumonde and Greg Garza held onto the shutout.

Valentin was mobile from his right back position and got forward in the first half via a give and go with Alex Molano to get into the corner. Valentin touched it back for Molano, who played a good ball into the area, where the 6-foot 4-inch Salgado jumped over his defender to head the ball in at he back post in his first international game.

The U.S. will next play Denmark on Wednesday, July 28, at 8 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET) with a chance to advance to the championship game of the tournament's Elite division.

U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team Match Report

Participants: U.S. U-20 MNT vs. China

Competition: 2010 Milk Cup

Location: Ballymena Showgrounds, Northern Ireland

Date: July 26, 2010

Time: 8:00 p.m. Local

Weather: Cool and Damp

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

USA 1 0 1

CHN 0 0 0

USA – Omar Salgado (Alex Molano) 18th minute

Lineups:

USA: 18-Zac MacMath; 2-Zarek Valentin, 6-Perry Kitchen, 22-Gale Agbossoumonde, 5-Greg Garza (15-Bryan De La Fuente, 46); 10-Francisco Navas Cobo (8-Dillon Powers, 46), 12-Conor Shanosky, 7-Alex Molano (16-Ernest Nungaray, 67), 14-Fuad Ibrahim; 17-Juan Agudelo, 9-Omar Salgado (13-Adrian Ruelas, 88)

Subs Not Used: 3-Sacir Hot, 19-Ethan White, 24-Samir Badr

Head Coach: Thomas Rongen

CHN: 12-Dong Jianhong; 14-Shi Ke, 5-Lei Tenglong (7-Zang Hongan, 91), 3-Ma Chongchong, 6-Cai Shun; 16-Liu Binbin (24-Bi Jinhao, 88), 11-Zou Yucheng, 20-Wang Tong (15-Liu Yang, 81), 19-Zang Xizhe; 17-Gu Bin, 23-Men Yang (18-Ji Chao, 72)

Subs Not Used: 10-Peng Xinli, 21-Tan Tiancheng

Head Coach: N/A

Statistical Summary: USA / CHN

Shots 12 / 9

Saves 5 / 2

Fouls 12 / 7

Corner Kicks 7 / 6

Offside 1 / 2

Misconduct Summary:

None

Milk Cup Elite Division Schedule/Results

Date Result

June 26 Denmark 4, Japan 1

June 26 USA 1, China 0

June 26 Mexico 1, Northern Ireland 1

June 28 USA vs. Denmark

June 28 Northern Ireland vs. China

June 28 Mexico vs. Japan

Source

[Captain Kangaroo]

Valentin touched it back for Molano, who played a good ball into the area, where the 6-foot 4-inch Salgado jumped over his defender to head the ball in at he back post in his first international game.

I thought I read that height wasn't any sort of advantage in soccer?

[Zip_ME87]

Valentin touched it back for Molano, who played a good ball into the area, where the 6-foot 4-inch Salgado jumped over his defender to head the ball in at he back post in his first international game.

I thought I read that height wasn't any sort of advantage in soccer?

You caught that, too.

[ZachTheZip]

Looks like they made it to the finals.

And would anybody get the idea that height is not an advantage in soccer? What I said was that many colleges consider height to be more important than actual skill when recruiting and that i hoped that Akron wasn't falling into that.

[Zip_ME87]

US U-20 to Play Host N Ireland in Final

[Z.I.P.]

US U-20 to Play Host N Ireland in Final

Interesting development not mentioned -- and I think confirmed on UA's roster: Perry Kitchen is getting a lot of PT in the midfield. With so many fullbacks, it sure helps the all-everything rookie to have multiple talents and flexibility. As I recall, he played the right back for USA last year at U-17 WC -- though Wilmer Cabrera gave him just one-half of actual pitch presence.

[Zip_ME87]

And would anybody get the idea that height is not an advantage in soccer? What I said was that many colleges consider height to be more important than actual skill when recruiting and that i hoped that Akron wasn't falling into that.

Just having fun with you Zach. Your last sentence threw me off.

http://zipsnation.org/forums//index.php?s=...st&p=117794

Last year's Zips squad proved that height doesn't really matter. I doubt this is the case with Akron getting these two, but most colleges will often choose to go after players who are big-bodied and play physical kick-the-ball-forward american style soccer instead of shorter ones who know how to play the beautiful game. I don't think that's what Akron is doing here, as I said. I just don't see the need for taller players in soccer outside the keeper position.

[Zip_ME87]

The USA won.

USA 3 N. Ireland 0

http://www.nimilkcup.org/?tabindex=23&tabid=3575

MILK CUP RESULTS

Elite Section

Northern Ireland Milk Cup Winners - U.S.A.

Runners up - N. Ireland

3rd - Denmark

4th - Mexico

5th - Japan

6th - China

http://www.nimilkcup.org/?module=datalistd...88-0d583dc81a9b

U.S. U-20 Men's National Team Wins Milk Cup with Emphatic 3-0 Victory Against Host Northern Ireland

http://www.ussoccer.com/News/U-20-MNT/2010...s-Milk-Cup.aspx

BALLYMENA, Northern Ireland (July 30, 2010) – The U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team took the Milk Cup title with a 3-0 win against tournament host Northern Ireland at the Showgrounds in Ballymena. Gale Agbossoumonde, Juan Agudelo and Adrian Reulas each scored for the U.S., which dominated the match to take its first Milk Cup title since 2005.

U.S. goalkeeper Zac MacMath marshalled a solid defensive unit that included Zarek Valentin, Agbossoumonde, Perry Kitchen and Greg Garza. The group held Northern Ireland to just seven shots, none of which were especially dangerous for MacMath.

The U.S. earned its place in the final with wins against China (1-0) and Denmark (3-2), and was the only team in the Elite Section to win its first two matches. Rongen used every field player on his roster and both goalkeepers during the three-game tournament.

Against Northern Ireland, the U.S. took the lead in the 24th minute, when Agbossoumonde, who wore the captain’s armband in all three games, lined up a free kick from 20 yards. He took a long run up to the ball and fired it through the wall, giving the ‘keeper no chance to react as the ball skipped into the side netting.

The American side continued to press, and had a goal disallowed just moments later. In the 43rd minute, Agudelo pounced on a ball just inside his attacking half, and, with a great individual effort, went past two defenders. He created enough space to wind up his shot, lifting the ball over goalkeeper Wayne Drummond and dipping it just under the crossbar to double the U.S. lead before the half.

In the second half, a great passing combination led Valentin wide with the ball near the end line. The Akron defender turned and slotted the ball back for strike partner Ruelas, who hit the ball first time and ripped it into the far post from 15 yards for his third goal of the Milk Cup.

[johnnyzip84]

More analysis of the Milk Cup victory and what it might mean for the future of American soccer. It's GREAT having Akron's name thrown around in stories like this. Of course, the implication that Valentin will be turning pro soon isn't great news. But Caleb will just reload!

SI Link

[MDZip]

More analysis of the Milk Cup victory and what it might mean for the future of American soccer. It's GREAT having Akron's name thrown around in stories like this. Of course, the implication that Valentin will be turning pro soon isn't great news. But Caleb will just reload!

SI Link

That may be the best thing about Caleb and his program. So we lose our leading goal scorer in each of the last two years (and arguably two of the best players in the country) and both as sophomores and yet we are still ranked #1 going into this year. That's amazing. Even for those of you who are not big soccer fans, this is the closest we have to a program that is garnering at least some national attention. The cheapest season tickets are only $60 so even if you don't go, grab up a season ticket and help the team sell out. Then you can donate them to a youth league and look even better. Show Caleb how much we appreciate him.

[Z.I.P.]

More analysis of the Milk Cup victory and what it might mean for the future of American soccer. It's GREAT having Akron's name thrown around in stories like this. Of course, the implication that Valentin will be turning pro soon isn't great news. But Caleb will just reload!

SI Link

Good article by Dohrmann. Next year is the U-17 (and I think U-19) World Cup, in Mexico. A good chance that future Zips Will Trapp and Bryan Gallego will be part of the U17s, as well as recruiting target Andrew Souder of Premier Academy -- now playing for Crew Academy. Zarek Valentin will be a star at MLS level, and will be quickly replaced by another star. Anyone who saw Perry Kitchen plan in last year's U17 WC saw what a fantastic long passer he is out of the back. Look forward to seeing him lead counterattacks beginning in mere weeks, if he can earn a spot in the lineup.

[Zip_ME87]

More analysis of the Milk Cup victory and what it might mean for the future of American soccer. It's GREAT having Akron's name thrown around in stories like this. Of course, the implication that Valentin will be turning pro soon isn't great news. But Caleb will just reload!

SI Link

Good article by Dohrmann. Next year is the U-17 (and I think U-19) World Cup, in Mexico. A good chance that future Zips Will Trapp and Bryan Gallego will be part of the U17s, as well as recruiting target Andrew Souder of Premier Academy -- now playing for Crew Academy. Zarek Valentin will be a star at MLS level, and will be quickly replaced by another star. Anyone who saw Perry Kitchen plan in last year's U17 WC saw what a fantastic long passer he is out of the back. Look forward to seeing him lead counterattacks beginning in mere weeks, if he can earn a spot in the lineup.

Perry got a lot of playing time with the Zips in the Spring and looked great. It's awesome that he has already put in a semester at The U of A.