US Ends Toulon Winless

Lose to Italy, 2-0

May 26, 2008

Italy took the top spot in Group B of the Toulon Tournament with three wins – three more than a U.S. squad that went 0-3, pushing its winless streak to four including the CONCACAF championship loss in March.

Still, the U.S., used the tournament to evaluate as many players as possible before this summer’s Olympic Games, including three different goalkeepers.

“We came to this tournament to make sure that we had all of our bases covered, and to evaluate as many players in the Olympic pool as possible,” said coach Peter Nowak. “There were many positive things to take out of the tournament, and we will use a lot of what we saw here in our decision making in the next couple months as we move toward Beijing.”

The two teams traded opportunities throughout the first half, but it was Italy who was able to capitalize. Jumping on a turnover in the U.S. defensive zone, Dessena played a quick through ball for Ignazio Abate. Alone in front of Seitz, Abate played a low shot to the far post, just out of the reach of the sprawling ‘keeper to give Italy a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute.

On an Italian buildup in the 35th minute, the U.S. back line stepped up to pressure. Italian midfielder Daniele Galloppa flicked the ball up and over the defense for an on-rushing Osvaldo. Osvaldo looked up and spotted Dessena coming with him and slotted the ball back into his path. Dessena’s shot came from six yards in front of Seitz, giving him no chance to save the one-timer.

In the second half, the U.S. continued to battle and create dangerous chances. In the 66th minute, a U.S. buildup got the ball to the feet of Gabe Ferrari, who touched the ball to the middle of the field and ripped a shot that Italian goalkeeper Enrico Alfonso did well to tip over the crossbar.

U.S. goalkeeper Quentin Westberg, one of three halftime substitutes, was called upon to make several key saves, and the Troyes-based ‘keeper was up to the task. After an Italy corner kick, Dessena ripped a shot from just outside the box that sailed toward goal, but Westberg dove and punched it out of play.

The U.S. had one final opportunity, as Brek Shea combined with Julian Valentin to move the ball up field in the 90th minute. Valentin slipped the ball to Lee Nguyen, and the midfielder touched it around a pair of defenders toward goal. Nguyen pulled the trigger from the top of the box, but was unable to get much power behind his shot.

U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team Match Report

Scoring Summary:
ITA – Ignazio Abate (Daniele Dessena) 30th
ITA – Daniele Dessena (Paolo Daniel Osvaldo) 35th

Lineups:
USA: 1-Chris Seitz (24-Quentin Westberg, 46); 13-Blake Wagner (4-Kyle Davies, 46), 3-Eric Brunner, 6-Julian Valentin, 25-Jonathan Leathers; 16-Corey Ashe, 14-Bryan Arguez, 8-Greg Dalby, 7-Kamani Hill - capt. (17-Lee Nguyen, 46); 9-Gabe Ferrari, 19-Sammy Ochoa

ITA: 12-Alfonso Enrico; 2-Marco Motta, 5-Lino Marzoratti, 13-Andrea Coda – capt., 6-Salvatore Bocchetti; 20-Daniele Dessena, 21-Luca Cigarini (4-Antonio Nocerino, 59), 14-Daniele Galloppa; 17-Ignazio Abate; 10-Claudio Marchisio (7-Davide Lanzafame, 46); 9-Pablo Daniel Osvaldo (19-Graziano Pelle, 59)

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