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From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:
U.S. UNDER-20 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM FALLS TO ARGENTINA, 1-0, IN
WORLD CUP PREPARATION MATCH AT PAETEC PARK IN ROCHESTER, NY
U.S. Outshoots Argentina, 15-8, But Can’t Find the Back of the Net
Argentina Goalkeeper Emiliano Centeno Stones Multiple Shots By Adu and Altidore
Preparation for 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup Continues In Early June With Trip to Canada
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (May 15, 2007) — In a game that served as a warm-up for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, defending world champion Argentina held off a fierce United States attack on Tuesday night at PAETEC Park in Rochester, N.Y., and made a 56th minute goal stand for a 1-0 victory.
In a game that saw both teams earn several good scoring chances, the United States seemed to get the better of the offensive opportunities throughout the game, outshooting Argentina 15-8, but couldn’t break through goalkeeper Emiliano Centeno. A perfectly taken free kick by Alejandro Gomez from the right side of the box found Diego Braghieri, who timed his run perfectly to head the ball in the back of the net for the game’s only goal.
“In the end we didn't convert our chances and they converted the one they had,” said U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach Thomas Rongen. “I can't be prouder of the mentality of the team though. We put the reigning world champions on their heels. It's a great lesson to be learned at this point, that the little things make a difference. I'm not happy about the loss, don't get me wrong, but at the same time there are a lot of building blocks and positive things we can work on.”
The first chance for either team came in the fourth minute when Robbie Rogers beat his defender down the left side and played a square ball to Danny Szetela in the middle of the field. Szetela took a touch toward goal, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.
Near the half-hour mark, Facundo Coria picked the ball off Szetela’s feet in the middle of the field and created Argentina’s best chance of the half, taking a touch toward goal from 25 yards out. He rifled a low, hard shot that forced U.S. goalkeeper Chris Seitz to fully extend to get a hand on the ball and get it over the end line for his best save of the night.
Josmer Altidore almost put the U.S. up in the 38th minute when he received a ball and touched it by defender Gabriel Mercado before dribbling in on goal. With a few step-overs as he moved inside the area, he put defender Braghieri off balance, before ripping a left-footed shot, but Centeno came up with the first of five big saves on the night.
The U.S. came out of the locker room for the second half with their eyes on the goal. Quick chances came when a ball was chipped into the box looking for Altidore, but Centeno was once again up to the task. Less than a minute later, Rogers again played a ball into the box that found Altidore, who brought the ball down with his chest around two defenders, but his shot went well over the crossbar. Staying on the attack, defender Tim Ward found Freddy Adu alone in the box, but his shot ended up right in the hands of the goalkeeper.
In another flurry of offense for the United States in the 59th minute, Adu took a free kick from 30 yards away that hit the crossbar and bounced almost straight down, only to be cleared by the Argentine defense. On the ensuing corner, the U.S. played it short and Johann Smith chipped a ball into the box for Altidore. Altidore was able to make something out of a half-chance and get a shot off as he was being surrounded by defenders, but again Centeno came up with a big save off of a point blank shot.
In stoppage time, Argentina was content to play the ball long and let their forwards run onto it to wind down the clock, but the U.S. kept the pressure on until the end. The last chance came on a free kick to the left of Argentina’s box, and everyone for the U.S., including Seitz, was pushed forward looking for the equalizer. The cross drifted to the far post and went just over Amaechi Igwe’s head as the final whistle blew.
Both teams will be taking part in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will take place in Canada from June 30-July 22. The U.S. was drawn into Group D with Korea Republic, Poland and Brazil. This is the sixth straight appearance for the U.S. in the world championship and their 11th overall. The U.S. opens against Korea Republic on June 30, then faces Poland on July 3 and concludes group play on July 6 against four-time U-20 world champions Brazil. The U.S. will play Korea Republic and Poland at The Olympic Stadium in Montreal, before heading to Ottawa to face Brazil at Frank Clair Stadium
This will be the second team Rongen will take to a FIFA U-20 World Cup, having coached the U.S. Under-20s at the 2003 event in the United Arab Emirates (then named FIFA World Youth Championship), leading the team to an impressive fifth place finish.
U.S. UNDER-20 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM FALLS TO ARGENTINA, 1-0, IN
WORLD CUP PREPARATION MATCH AT PAETEC PARK IN ROCHESTER, NY
U.S. Outshoots Argentina, 15-8, But Can’t Find the Back of the Net
Argentina Goalkeeper Emiliano Centeno Stones Multiple Shots By Adu and Altidore
Preparation for 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup Continues In Early June With Trip to Canada
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (May 15, 2007) — In a game that served as a warm-up for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, defending world champion Argentina held off a fierce United States attack on Tuesday night at PAETEC Park in Rochester, N.Y., and made a 56th minute goal stand for a 1-0 victory.
In a game that saw both teams earn several good scoring chances, the United States seemed to get the better of the offensive opportunities throughout the game, outshooting Argentina 15-8, but couldn’t break through goalkeeper Emiliano Centeno. A perfectly taken free kick by Alejandro Gomez from the right side of the box found Diego Braghieri, who timed his run perfectly to head the ball in the back of the net for the game’s only goal.
“In the end we didn't convert our chances and they converted the one they had,” said U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach Thomas Rongen. “I can't be prouder of the mentality of the team though. We put the reigning world champions on their heels. It's a great lesson to be learned at this point, that the little things make a difference. I'm not happy about the loss, don't get me wrong, but at the same time there are a lot of building blocks and positive things we can work on.”
The first chance for either team came in the fourth minute when Robbie Rogers beat his defender down the left side and played a square ball to Danny Szetela in the middle of the field. Szetela took a touch toward goal, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.
Near the half-hour mark, Facundo Coria picked the ball off Szetela’s feet in the middle of the field and created Argentina’s best chance of the half, taking a touch toward goal from 25 yards out. He rifled a low, hard shot that forced U.S. goalkeeper Chris Seitz to fully extend to get a hand on the ball and get it over the end line for his best save of the night.
Josmer Altidore almost put the U.S. up in the 38th minute when he received a ball and touched it by defender Gabriel Mercado before dribbling in on goal. With a few step-overs as he moved inside the area, he put defender Braghieri off balance, before ripping a left-footed shot, but Centeno came up with the first of five big saves on the night.
The U.S. came out of the locker room for the second half with their eyes on the goal. Quick chances came when a ball was chipped into the box looking for Altidore, but Centeno was once again up to the task. Less than a minute later, Rogers again played a ball into the box that found Altidore, who brought the ball down with his chest around two defenders, but his shot went well over the crossbar. Staying on the attack, defender Tim Ward found Freddy Adu alone in the box, but his shot ended up right in the hands of the goalkeeper.
In another flurry of offense for the United States in the 59th minute, Adu took a free kick from 30 yards away that hit the crossbar and bounced almost straight down, only to be cleared by the Argentine defense. On the ensuing corner, the U.S. played it short and Johann Smith chipped a ball into the box for Altidore. Altidore was able to make something out of a half-chance and get a shot off as he was being surrounded by defenders, but again Centeno came up with a big save off of a point blank shot.
In stoppage time, Argentina was content to play the ball long and let their forwards run onto it to wind down the clock, but the U.S. kept the pressure on until the end. The last chance came on a free kick to the left of Argentina’s box, and everyone for the U.S., including Seitz, was pushed forward looking for the equalizer. The cross drifted to the far post and went just over Amaechi Igwe’s head as the final whistle blew.
Both teams will be taking part in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will take place in Canada from June 30-July 22. The U.S. was drawn into Group D with Korea Republic, Poland and Brazil. This is the sixth straight appearance for the U.S. in the world championship and their 11th overall. The U.S. opens against Korea Republic on June 30, then faces Poland on July 3 and concludes group play on July 6 against four-time U-20 world champions Brazil. The U.S. will play Korea Republic and Poland at The Olympic Stadium in Montreal, before heading to Ottawa to face Brazil at Frank Clair Stadium
This will be the second team Rongen will take to a FIFA U-20 World Cup, having coached the U.S. Under-20s at the 2003 event in the United Arab Emirates (then named FIFA World Youth Championship), leading the team to an impressive fifth place finish.
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