SARASOTA, Florida - In the mind of forward Joseph Gyau, there was one goal and one goal only for the US U17 Men’s National Team on Friday.

“We wanted to show why we’re on the national team,” he said.

Mission accomplished.

The US team was more than impressive in a 3-1 victory over a collection of Development Academy players who formed a select team at the US Soccer Development Academy Spring Showcase. In front of approximately 400 viewers at the Sarasota Polo Club, Gyau and company put on an entertaining show.

The match had a good rhythm to it, likely from the familiarity between some of the US team players and their Development Academy foes.

The ball moved quickly on both sides, despite an occasional forceful downpour that cleared the spectator bleachers.

Gyau led the attack for the US, and is hard not to notice on the field. His moves can be flamboyant and he’s a spectacular dribbler, but when he plays within himself he’s very efficient. Gyau can occasionally get carried away and try to do too much, but most of everything he touched turned to gold Friday.

He set up a goal for Andrew Craven early in the second half where the US took a 2-1 lead, and set the table on the final score with a perfect cross in the box from the wing to Stefan Jerome, who gathered the ball and put in a nice left-footed strike.

The star and fan-favorite of the Academy Select team was Riley Wolfe, the diminutive striker with blazing speed. Wolfe excited the pro-Academy crowd with an early goal where he simply outran everyone and beat the keeper high right.

A couple sequences earlier, Wolfe had narrowly missed an attempted score. A regular with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Wolfe is a surprisingly powerful striker, and takes advantage of his wheels to make things happen.

“In the first half I didn’t know (Wolfe) was that fast,” said US defender Michael Ambrose. After he scored the goal I adjusted. They came in and gave a lot of energy to the game and played with a lot of confidence.”

Added Wolfe: “I (knew the) through ball was coming so I just going, took one touch and put the ball in the air,” of his score. “I know a lot of the guys I played with from playing against them. It’s an advantage, but also tough to adapt. It was an honor just to get the invite to play and it got me excited to be here with all the fans.”
The US got its first goal courtesy of Cody Cropper who exploded with a quick strike. The offense was steadied by Jose Perez and Jonathan Brown.

Perez played with poise and stayed within himself, using his technical skill and going at players only when necessary. Occasionally Jonathan Canales and Alex Molano, both big talents, tried to play a little too quick but the US core settled them in.

Ambrose was particularly strong throughout the match. He’s a gritty player with a good head on his shoulders and he continually showed it with good decision-making.

Coach Wilmer Cabrera inserted more size into the lineup in the second half where Juan Agudelo and Jerome came in, and the final 45 minutes were much more one-sided.

Jerome, a longtime national player, is an agile athlete, but it was his toughness that brought an edge to the second half along with players like Shaquille Philips, a monster of a defender.

On the Academy side, Moises Hernandez marked players well. Hernandez, of FC Dallas, is a strong all-around athlete and player who probably could thrive at most positions on the field.

Keith Cardona was in net for the select team during the second half, and he hung in well and made some good saves despite allowing a couple of unavoidable goals.

“There were some good defenders out there (on the Academy team), they had some guys who were pretty tough,” Gyau said. “When we come out to these games it’s not a serious game like we’re playing Brazil, it’s more to see where we are. Personally, I feel like my skills and touch are good right now. I’m working on my game.”

Ambrose suffered a minor hip injury in the second half that will sideline him for the rest of the week.

“I think I hurt my hip flexor - I’ll be fine. It should be fine in about a week,” he said. “That was a hard-fought game. They were really aggressive and a tough team, but we pulled it out. It was good.”

 

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