England 1-2 USA

The International U17 Tournament in Partnership with Pepsi
Meadow Lane, Notts County FC
Monday 7th July 2003
8.00pm

A fine second half strike from man of the match Daniel Szetela was enough to give the USA a well-earned victory over their hosts in their first game of this International Tournament.

England's Under 17s will be disappointed after they themselves enjoyed much of the ball, but were thwarted by a technically aware US defence and on the night, the visitors were rewarded for their clinical finishing.

A relaxed John McDermott was happy with his team's preparation before the game and felt they were ready for a test from a well-drilled but relatively unknown quantity from across the Atlantic. And the United States, though a younger side, were fired-up by their own enthusiastic huddle just before the kick off.

England had control of possession early on, and despite two half-chances for Szetela and Robbie Rogers, it looked like the home side who would gain the early advantage and profit from their good few days of training.

James Simmonds was obviously pleased to be playing again after what seems a very short summer, the Chelsea boy a lively campaigner seeking the ball at every opportunity. It was his ball in fact that paved the way for Simon Dawkins to have England's first crack. Receiving Simmonds' roll out to the right, Dawkins cut onto his left before shooting low, but the drag took the Spurs striker's effort wide.

Then shortly after, Arsenal's Kerrea Gilbert, playing just behind Dawkins, had a foray forward carrying the ball to within shooting distance before letting go, but like his mate before him, his powerful strike just missed Stephen Sandbo's left-hand post too.

The theme continued when Mark Davies had a try at goal. This time making space on the right, the young Wolves midfielder opted to shoot from range, but again this one was wide. With this many opportunities to shoot, it didn't seem long before England would have some luck, however, on the 18th minute it went the way of the USA instead.

A short corner on the right for the visitors found Brian Mascaranhas on the edge of the box. His theatrical dummy tricked the two on-rushing Lions affording himself chance to cross. Rodrigo Hidalgo, six yards out, was on hand to turn a shot towards Joe Lewis' goal, the Norwich stopper blocked his first effort, but when the rebound fell to Hidalgo again, he made no mistake with his second go.

England had a right to feel aggrieved at going behind, and Millwall's Moses Ashikodi was having none of it. The tall striker's speed and strength was a test for the US centre-back pairing of Ward and Valentin, but they managed to force Moses into the early shots and both were off-target.

McDermott's boys continued to press for an equaliser, Davies was given another couple of chances, but the USA must have read the script as each strike from outside the box failed to really trouble Sandbo. England needed some inspiration to get back into the game and soon after the break it so nearly came.

Replacing Simon Dawkins on the right it was the trickery of Middlesbrough's Danny Reed that caught the States off guard. A neat ball into the feet of Ashikodi was bettered by the number nine's sublime reverse pass back into the path of Reed. With just Sandbo to beat, Reed applied a deft flick but saw his effort strike the post and bounce away. Myles Weston on the rebound was also denied, this one a goal line clearance, and England's best chance was gone.

Then followed a spell of England pressure that deserved something, but yet again, the stout defending of Ward and Valentin kept the Three Lions away for the door. When England avoided the pair with shots from distance, they were again repelled, either by Sandbo's right hand dive, or by Ryan Soroka's goal line clearance.

Though England enjoyed more of the ball, the US were happy to let them play and look for something on the break. Their passing was crisp and their movement provided options, Soroka's sortie into the box was rewarded when he collected Szetela's cross-field pass, and the FC Delco forward drove his first time volley just past the post.

The next time we saw Szetela with the ball at his feet just after the hour mark, the Meadow Lane crowd was given a real treat. With his haze of blond curly hair, the boy from World Class Olympic started and ended the move that saw him finish in a fashion suited to any football occasion. From 20 yards he unleashed an awesome dipping drive that fooled Joe Lewis and fizzed into the net. If they weren't happy at being one down, England must have been mad now, but nobody could have denied Szetela his goal celebration and the man of the match award.

But England didn't give up, sub Ben Parker was given time and space on the left and with each step forward he found the gulf getting wider down the middle, so that's where he headed. The Leeds youngster was looking for glory, but as he approached the 18-yard line, out stretched a leg from the form of Tim Ward, and a supreme challenge from the Parkland SC kid prevented Parker from progressing any further.

But it would have been very harsh had England not taken something from the game, and in the final minute Moses Ashikodi pulled back a consolation goal. Ben Parker's give and go made space for him to cross from the left which was only half cleared at the back post.  The ball fell nicely to Ashikodi and with Sandbo out of position, not anticipating his team mate's slice, the goal was begging to be fed. The big striker made no mistake as he hammered home with ferocity, almost in hope of two goals for the price of one.

Unfortunately for England it was only one, and the US took the three points.

From Jamie Bradbury in Nottingham

Teams

England
1 Joe Lewis, 2 Kerrea Gilbert (4 Stuart Lewis, 51), 5 David Wheater, 7 Simon Dawkins (16 Danny Reed, 41), 9 Moses Ashikodi, 10 Mark Davies (8 Chris James, 72), 11 Myles Weston (3 Ben Parker, 61), 12 Sean Wright, 14 Gary Roberts (6 Michael Mancienne, 58), 17 James Simmonds, 18 Billy Jones (c)
Subs: 13 Ben Alnwick, 15 Jack Watkins

Goals: Ashikodi 80

USA
1 Stephen Sandbo, 2 Chris Andaur (8 Ryan Soroka, 41), 6 Dax McCarty, 7 Brian Mascarenhas, 10 Daniel Szetela (21 Eric Avila, 64), 11 Rodrigo Hidalgo (20 Jordan Graye, 65), 12 Nathan Sturgis, 13 Robbie Rogers (15 Jay Singh, 80), 16 Adam Sloustcher, 22 Tim Ward, Julian Valentin (c)
Subs: 5 Greg Folk, 17 Anthony Beltran, 18 Bryant Reuckner 

Goals: Hidalgo 18, Szetela 61
 
Man of the Match: Daniel Szetela

Referee: Mr LS Mason
Assistants: Mr S Castle and Mr I Scarr
4th Official: Mr J Moss

Related Items
Match Preview: USA Today - 7th July
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