Canada's men's U-20 national team has opened the four-team Marbella Cup on a good note, winning 2-1 over the United States in their first match on Wednesday. Vancouver Whitecaps FC striker Caleb Clarke scored the winning goal for the Red and White, while midfielder Bryce Alderson started and played 82 minutes, with attacker Ben Fisk starting and playing the full 90 minutes.
"There is a lot of character on this team," said Canadian U-20 head coach Nick Dasovic. "The camp is looking good and I am positive about this bunch of guys. We have a good thing going and we just need to keep carrying it through for the next couple of games."
Canada took the first-half lead through midfielder Samuel Piette in the 33rd minute. Piette, who earned his first senior cap with Canada in a scoreless draw against the U.S. on June 3 at BMO Field in Toronto, received the ball off a corner kick near the left edge of the penalty box and found space near the goal. Piette fired a hard shot past U.S. U-20s goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh and into the net for a 1-0 lead.
The U.S. found the equalizer off the head of forward Mario Rodriguez in the 75th minute. Following a strong run down the flank by midfielder Marc Pelosi, the Liverpool youth player cut back near the corner flag to create space and delivered a cross into the box that found Rodriguez six yards from goal to tie the match 1-1 with 15 minutes remaining.
The lead wouldn’t hold as Clarke received the ball near the top of the box after Canada forced a turnover in the U.S. zone and slotted a low shot past McIntosh for the game-winner in the 80th minute.
Canada outshot the U.S. 10-9 overall, including 4-3 on goal and the sides combined to commit 35 fouls. Canada was issued three yellow cards to just one for the U.S.
Azerbaijan, Scotland and USA are the other three teams competing in the tournament, with Canada's following matches on October 12 (Azerbaijan) and October 15 (Scotland). The Canadian training camp is based at the Marbella Football Center in Marbella, Spain.
Match: Canada U-20 MNT vs. U.S. U-20 MNT
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012
Competition: 2012 Marbella Cup
Venue: Marbella Football Center; Marbella, Spain
Attendance: 150
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 1 1
CAN 1 1 2
CAN – Samuel Piette 33rd minute
USA – Mario Rodriguez (Marc Pelosi) 75
CAN – Caleb Clarke 80
Lineups:
USA: 1-Kendall McIntosh; 2-Boyd Okwuonu (13-Eric Miller, 69), 4-Shane O’Neill (Marc Pelosi, 65), 5-Will Packwood, 3-Javan Torre (15-Jonathan Top, 82); 6-Caleb Stanko (capt.), 10-Mikey Lopez (14-Luis Gil, 46), 8-Benji Joya; 7-Jerome Kiesewetter (17-Jose Villarreal, 46), 9-Mario Rodriguez, 11-Daniel Cuevas
Subs not used: 12-Zack Steffen
Head Coach: Tab Ramos
CAN: 1-Richard Gomes; 2-Jon Dollery, 3-Marco Lapenna, 4-Doneil Henry (capt.), 5-Manjrekar James; 6-Samuel Piette, 7-Michael Petrasso (17-Kevin Luarca, 69), 8-Bryce Alderson (16-Mauro Eustaquio, 82); 9-Caleb Clarke (14-Stefan Vukovic, 88), 10-Keven Aleman (20-Dylan Carreiro, 75), 11-Ben Fisk
Subs not used:12-Alan Zebie, 13-Alessandro Riggi, 15-Nikolai Paunic, 18-Quillan Roberts, 19-Jonathan Lao
Head Coach: Nick Dasovic
Stats Summary: USA / CAN
Shots: 9 / 10
Shots on Goal: 3 / 4
Saves: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 10 / 6
Fouls: 18 / 17
Offside: 2 / 4
Misconduct Summary:
CAN – Manjrekar James (caution) 54th minute
CAN – Ben Fisk (caution) 58
CAN – Doneil Henry (caution) 72
USA – Daniel Cuevas (caution) 72
