U23s Drop Second Straight in France

No Chance to Advance to Semis

May 24, 2008

A 71st-minute foul by Tony Beltran in the penalty box gave the Ivory Coast a penalty kick and Djakpa, Ivory Coast’s captain, stepped up and converted from the spot for the eventual game-winner.

The U.S. is in fourth place in Group B, behind Italy (six points), Ivory Coast (three points) and Turkey (three points). Sitting in last place with zero points, the U.S. doesn’t have any opportunity to advance to the semifinals, even with a victory against Italy Sunday in the last game.

U.S. Under-23 head coach Peter Nowak used an almost entirely different lineup from the team’s first match against Turkey, with Lee Nguyen the only returning starter. The Revolution’s Rob Valentino made his first U-23 start in the back.

“It was a new group that played today, and as I said before the last game we want to have a look at everybody,” said Nowak. “Today was another chance to see the players in action and to see how the new players have developed. We’re looking at what’s going to happen in July and August and this is one of the times that we’re going to look at all the players and make the right decisions.”

Team Match Report

Scoring Summary:
CIV - Constant Djakpa (penalty) 71st

Lineups:
USA: 1-Chris Seitz; 20-Tony Beltran, 2-Rob Valentino, 4-Kyle Davies, 5-Michael Gavin; 7-Kamani Hill (9-Gabe Ferrari, 78), 14-Bryan Arguez, 17-Lee Nguyen (16-Corey Ashe, 59), 15-Blake Wagner; 21-Brek Shea, 15-Bryan Jordan (11-Ellis McLoughlin, 71)

CIV: 1-Christian Fabrice Okoua, 15-Constant Djakpa, 4-Souleman Bamba, 10-Kouamantien Emmanuel Kone, 6-Moura-Komenan Anthony (3-Ousmane Viera Diarassouba, 60), 5-Serge Pascal Wawa, 17-Antoine Jean-Ettien N’Gossan, 9-Nassa Guy Roland Niangbo (12-Franck Dja-Djedje, 64), 7-Kafoumba Coulibaly, 13-Soilyho Ouattara

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