CARSON, California - The U.S. U18 Men’s National Team dropped the opener of the 2015 NTC Invitational 2-1 to Uruguay on Saturday. UCLA(m) midfielder Jackson Yueill (Minnesota Thunder Academy) scored the lone goal on a penalty kick after Emmanuel Sabbi (Chicago Magic PSG/ Akron(m)) was taken down in the box. 

Martin Pereira (Danubio FC) led the way for Uruguay with a goal and an assist on the day. Pereira’s club teammate Martin Amuz scored the other goal. U.S. goalkeeper and California(m) commit Jonathan Klinsmann (Strikers FC) made four saves in the final 10 minutes of the game to keep the U.S. close late. 

Both teams return to action on Monday with the U.S. taking on Czech Republic as part of the NTC Invitational while Uruguay will scrimmage Club Tijuana. The tournament ends on Wednesday with Uruguay taking on Czech Republic. 

Uruguay U18 MNT 2-1 U.S. U18 MNT

The U.S. started in a 4-3-3 formation with homegrown players Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake), Victor Mansaray (Seattle Sounders), and Coy Craft (FC Dallas) occupying the spots across the attacking line. Saucedo tucked in and dropped back into a more natural spot for his skills and playing style while Craft stayed high and wide. 

The professional heavy frontline had the chances early thanks to a determined effort from the midfielder trio of Cam Lindley (Chicago Fire/North Carolina(m)), Ben Swanson (Columbus Crew), and Mukwelle Akale (Villarreal CF). Lindley did well to win the ball back with an unrelenting effort in the center of the field. 

Ultimately, the chances just went missing. Swanson set up Mansaray who had dropped off the shoulder of his defender and gained a few yards of space inside the 18-yard box, but Mansaray’s shot went over the bar. 

Craft created the next chance when he squeezed in between two Uruguay defenders and then touched the ball past the goalkeeper and toward the center of the field. Craft played it back to Mansaray who had a better angle at the goal, but the Sounders forward hit his shot over the goal. 

Saucedo had the lone shot on goal for the U.S. in the opening half. The Real Salt Lake winger hit a brilliant free kick that goalkeeper Agustin Lopez (Defensor Sporting) kept out of the net with a diving save. 

With nine minutes left in the half, Uruguay snagged the opener. Pereira provided the service with a corner kick that Amuz headed in. The U.S. defense let Amuz get a free look at the ball from only six yards out. 

The goal shifted the momentum of the game with Uruguay having the run of the play to close out the half. The U.S. defense made some late challenges to keep the lead from growing and kept the game at 1-0 at the break. 

U.S. head coach Javier Perez brought on Jackson Yueill and Sebastian Elney for Akale and Mansaray to start the second half.  

The changes helped create a chance early in the second half when left center back Hugo Arellano header after a corner kick went just wide of the post. 

Uruguay added its second goal in the 60th minute a bit fortuitously. Pererira dribbled into the box and then fired a shot low. Arellano tried to block the shot with a slide tackle, but it took a hop and hit off his shinguard, which caused the ball to float over Klinsmann and into the net.

Saucedo tried to cut into the lead with a shot from 20 yards out six minutes later, but Lopez made the save. 

With 15 minutes left, the U.S. pushed numbers forward and left the defense vulnerable on the counter. Uruguay had the chances to add to the lead. Klinsmann made two good saves in quick succession in the 75th and 80th minute. 

U.S. answered in the 82nd minute when Sabbi was brought down in the box. Yueill ripped his shot from the spot into the upper corner of the net. 

That was as close the U.S. would get though. Uruguay had the last two chances on the game, but Klinsmann came up with two more good saves. 

U.S. U18 MNT Starting XI: Jonathan Klinsmann; Pablo Pelaez, Hugo Arellano, Mauricio Pineda, Kyle Duncan; Ben Swanson, Cam Lindley, Mukwelle Akale; Sebastian Saucedo, Victor Mansaray, Coy Craft

Substitutes: Sebastian Elney, Jackson Yueill, Christian Lucatero, Haji Wright, Emmanuel Sabbi

Goals: Martin Amuz 36’, Martin Pereira 60’, Jackson Yueill 82’

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