U-17s Beat Brazil, Fall to Turkey

Finish 2-1 in International Action

December 10, 2007

BRADENTON, Fla. – The U.S. Under-17 (’92) men’s soccer team defeated Brazil, 2-0, Saturday, but fell to Turkey by the same score in the final international match of the Development Academy Nike Friendlies on Sunday.

Goals from midfielder Carlos Martinez and forward Stefan Jerome propelled the Americans to victory over Brazil Saturday. Martinez’s well-taken goal, his second of the tournament, was assisted by Joseph-Michael Gyau. The midfielders combined in the 27th minute, with Gyau crossing for Martinez to flick the ball with his right foot past the helpless Brazilian goalie.

Jerome’s 80th minute strike came from the penalty spot, and all but ended the Brazilians’ attempts to get back into the game. The goal was Jerome’s second of the tournament as well, after both he and Martinez found themselves on the score sheet in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Russia.

Goalkeeper Earl Edwards contributed 10 saves to today’s winning effort, as Wilmer Cabrera’s young team staved off the Brazilians to earn the USA’s first ever win over the South Americans at the Nike Friendlies.

In the United States’ final international match Sunday, two first-half goals from Ali Cukadar lifted Turkey to the 2-0 victory.

Turkey put the U.S. under pressure right from the start, earning a corner kick in the sixth minute that Ogulcan Gokce headed just over the bar. Five minutes later, Cukadar eluded his defender and got on the end of an Omer Karanci cross, snapping his header to the far post and beating U.S. goalkeeper Samir Badr.

Two minutes before halftime, Kamil Tevfik played a long ball upfield for Berkin Aslan, who took a perfect first touch with the outside of his foot toward goal. Aslan saw Cukadar alongside him in the box and played a square ball into his path, and Cukadar was able to put it in the net from two yards away.

“Overall, it was a successful weekend,” said head coach Wilmer Cabrera. “We got two good wins, played well, and today we got a chance to look at some of our other players and evaluate them in an international game.”

The best chance for the Americans came in the 38th minute after a corner kick. Lemus, who took the corner, got the ball back and crossed it toward the near post. Defender Jared Watts was up on the attack and got a head on it, but his downward header bounced just past the post. In the 58th minute, Watts again was up in the box on a corner kick, but his snapped header was saved by goalkeeper Umutcan Yuksel.

For complete results from the Development Academy Nike Friendlies, all_access videos and behind-the-scenes happenings, check out the Nike Friendlies home page at ussoccer.com.

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