Soccer By Ives

Arguez enjoying career revival

Photo by Max Becherer/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. -- Bryan Arguez has a lot to be excited about these days.

In the past two months, Arguez has gone from playing in the NASL with the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, to getting signed by the Montreal Impact, to getting called into his first camp with the U.S. Under-23 men's national team.

It has been a run of good fortune for the 22-year-old Arguez, who has endured his share of disappointments, but it's also been a process that has made him more appreciative and hungry.

"It's been exciting to go from where I was in the beginning at the highest level, going down to NASL and now getting another opportunity," said Arguez, whose nickname is Mooki. "I'm excited about it, and I'm excited to take advantage of every opportunity I get."

Studio 90: Day One From December Camp

 

Boyd, Rowe added to U-23 camp

Photo by ISIphotos.com

When Caleb Porter released his initial roster for the upcoming U.S. Under-23 training camp in Florida, a few omissions raised some eyebrows.

A couple of those players in question are now included, as Borussia Dortmund striker Terrence Boyd and UCLA playmaker Kelyn Rowe were added to the camp, during which Porter will get a look at 30 players eligible for Olympic qualifying.

Boyd was a standout performer at the U-23 camp in Germany last month, and Rowe is coming off another strong season at UCLA, one that ended with him earning Pac-12 Player of the Year honors along with a College Cup berth. They'll both compete at the camp, which takes place Dec. 15-23 at Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

What do you think of this development? Happy to see both players included?

Share your thoughts below.

Porter names roster for U-23 camp

Caleb Porter has named a 28-man roster for his first camp in charge of the U.S. U-23 men's national team, and there's talent aplenty.

Freddy Adu, Teal Bunbury, Mikkel Diskerud and Bill Hamid are just some of the more well-known names in the eight-day camp that will be held in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. The camp will begin on Dec. 15 and run through Dec. 23 at the Premire Sports Campus, which just finished hosting the Nike International Friendlies.

Here is the full roster:

Goalkeepers: David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Zac MacMath (Philadelphia Union)

Defenders: Gale Agbossoumonde (Eintracht Frankfurt), Royal-Dominique Fennell (Stuttgarter Kickers), Sebastien Ibeagha (Duke), Kofi Sarkodie (Houston Dynamo), Zarek Valentin (Montreal Impact), Jorge Villafana (Chivas USA), Andrew Wenger (Duke), Sheanon Williams (Philadelphia Union) 

Midfielders: Freddy Adu (Philadelphia Union), Bryan Arguez (Montreal Impact), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Danny Cruz (Houston Dynamo), Mikkel Diskerud (Stabaek), Dilly Duka (Columbus Crew), Jared Jeffrey (Mainz), Sebastian Lletget (West Ham United), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union), Michael Stephes (LA Galaxy)

Forwards: Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Teal Bunbury (Sporting KC), Jann George (Nurnberg), Joe Gyau (Hoffenheim), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union), Andrew Wooten (Kaiserslautern)

USA U-17s top Brazil to win Nike International Friendlies championship

Photo by John Dorton/ISIphotos.com

Plenty can change in terms of player development over the next number of years, but for the time being, the United States Under-17 national team proved that there's much to be excited about when it comes to the future of the U.S. program. 

Rubio Rubin, Tyler Turner and Wesley Wade scored first-half goals, as the U.S. U-17s completed an unbeaten run at the Nike International Friendlies in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., with a 3-1 victory over Brazil on Sunday to capture the tournament championship.

Rubin opened the scoring in the second minute off a flicked-on free kick from Junior Flores by creatively redirecting the ball with his back to the goal. The lead was short-lived, as Brazil pulled level in the 16th minute off a strike from distance by Matheus Querioz after a failed clearance. 

The U.S. U-17s kept on bringing the attack to the Brazilians during the open affair, though, with Turner scoring the eventual game-winner in the 31st minute, smacking home a loose ball inside the area. Wade doubled the U.S. edge just before halftime, redirecting Flores' cross into the net.

The United States tied France and defeated Turkey prior to Sunday's victory. Wade and Turner led the United States with two goals apiece at the tournament, while Ruben, Flores and DeAndre Robinson chipped in with one each.

Highlights from Sunday's tournament finale are after the jump:

U.S. Under-17 vs. Brazil: Your Running Commentary

 

The Nike Friendlies conclude today with the marquee match we've been waiting for, the United States taking on Brazil (5pm, Fox Soccer Channel).

We weren't originally going to post a live commentary on this game, in part because I've just gone on vacation and nobody else is around, but with the United States up 3-1 at halftime and putting on a show, I'm sure there are plenty of USA fans eager to talk about the next generation of up and coming American stars.

If you are watching today's match, and want to talk about that first-half display, as well as the rest of the action from Florida, feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

U.S. Under-17s 2, Turkey 1: Match Highlights

USA U-17s vs. Turkey: Your Running Commentary

Photo by John Dorton/ISIphotos.com

The United States Under-17 national team takes to the field at the Nike International Friendlies in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., again, looking to build off its first performance of the tournament with a matchup against Turkey (5 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel).

The United States played France to a 2-2 draw in its first game on Wednesday, getting a highlight-reel strike from DeAndre Robinson before getting a last-gasp equalizer from Wesley Wade. Turkey, meanwhile, fell to Brazil in its first game by a 1-0 scoreline and will be looking for a better result the second time around.

If you will be watching the match, please feel free to share any thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the action.

U.S. Under-17s score late to tie France

The U.S. U-17 men's national team scored a beautiful opening goal and another in second-half stoppage time to tie France, 2-2, in the team's Nike International Friendlies opener on Wednesday.

Wesley Wade earned the Americans a result at Premier Sports Complex in Lakewood Ranch, Fla when he scored a goal in the 93rd minute following a long throw-in. DeAndre Robinson scored the opener for the United States, hitting a beautiful curled effort into the top corner in the 25th minute.

The result leaves Wilmer Cabrera's men tied with France for second place in the four-team tournament after Brazil defeated Turkey, 1-0, in the other match of the day.

The U.S. team next faces Turkey on Friday.

You can see full highlights from the match after the jump:

Must-See Goal: DeAndre Robinson

USA U-17s vs. France: Your Running Commentary

The future of the United States men's national team is on display in Sarasota, Fla., as the U.S. Under-17 national team takes on France on the opening match of the 2011 Nike International Friendlies (5 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel).

The match is the first of three for the U.S. U-17s, who will face Turkey on Friday before wrapping up play against Brazil on Sunday.

Coach Wilmer Cabrera has a 20-man roster at his disposal for the tournament, with 16 of those players coming from Development Academy clubs. Here's a more detailed look at the roster from U.S. Soccer, along with an interview with Cabrera in which he talks about the next wave of U.S. talent.

If you will be watching today's match, please feel free to share any thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the action.

USA U23s 1, Bayer Leverkusen U23s/reserves 1: Match Highlights

U.S. U-23s draw, lose in final camp friendlies

While the U.S. senior national team was busy getting a result in Slovenia, the U.S. Under-23 side training in Germany played to a draw and lost in a pair of friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen reserve and youth sides.

A few days after topping VfL Bochum's reserve team and drawing against Azerbaijan's U-21 side, the U-23s jumped out to a lead on a team comprised of Leverkusen's reserves and U-23s but settled for a 1-1 draw.

Terrence Boyd, who tallied a goal against Bochum, scored the lone goal for the U.S. U-23s, finishing off a flick from Mixx Diskerud from short range to give the Americans the lead in the 72nd minute. Leverkusen, which had U.S. senior international David Yelldell start in goal, found the equalizer with a late free kick.

The United States, fielding a mostly U-20 side, dropped a 3-0 result to Leverkusen's U-19 team after being scoreless at halftime in the second match of the day.

Here are the starting lineups for the two matches according to U.S. Soccer:

Salgado to train with Fulham

Vancouver Whitecaps striker Omar Salgado, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 MLS Draft, will train with English club Fulham once the current U.S. Under-23 national team camp in Germany finishes up this week, sources told SBI on Tuesday.

Salgado, a 6-foot-4 striker with deceptive speed and impressive technical ability, will be training with the London club for the next two weeks. The 18-year-old U.S. Under-20 standout recently secured a Spanish passport in September, making a potential move to Europe easier if an offer is made to Vancouver for his services.

Salgado was seldom used by the Whitecaps in his rookie season, managing five starts and 14 total appearances for the expansion side, producing a goal and assist in 501 minutes of action. He made an impression on the reserve team level, finishing among the league leaders in reserve team goals.

Friday Kickoff: U.S. U-23s top Bochum, Aguero injured and more

Photo by Bill Barrett/ISIphotos.com

After a few days together in a training-camp setting in Germany, the U.S. Under-23 national team got to take to the playing field on Friday and turned in a positive result. 

Tony Taylor scored the go-ahead goal, while Terrance Boyd and Dilly Duka also got on the board as the U.S. U-23s topped a reserve side from German club VfL Bochum, 3-1, in a scrimmage.

Sean Johnson got the start in goal for the United States; Sheanon Williams, Ethan White, Royal-Dominique Fennell and Zarek Valentin started in defense; Joe Corona, Amobi Okugo, Mixx Diskerud and Greg Garza started in the midfield, and Juan Agudelo and Boyd began the match up top, according to U.S. Soccer.

The Under-23s have a second match slated for Friday against Azerbaijan's U-21 side, with a different crop of players from the 36-man camp set to play.

Here are a few more stories to get your day rolling:

Liverpool announces Pelosi signing

Liverpool has announced the signing of former U.S. Under-17 national team captain Marc Pelosi on Tuesday, making Pelosi the second American to sign with the English powerhouse this year.

Pelosi has spent months with Liverpool, but his move to the club had been held up as he and Liverpool awaited international clearance for the move.

A native of Sunnyvale, California, Pelosi captained the U.S. Under-17 team at the Under-17 World Cup this past summer.

Pelosi joins fellow California native and U.S. Under-18 striker Villyan Bijev, who signed with Liverpool as an 18-year old this summer. Bijev has since gone on loan to German side Fortuna Dusseldorf.