Thursday, August 30, 2007

U-17's Out: USA 1-2 Germany

Hmmm. Highlights here.

The Germans were easily the more dangerous side, outshooting the US 18-10. FW Richard Sukuta-Pasu scored a brace on the day and was nearly joined on the scoreboard by half a dozen of his teammates. Toni Kroos, a member of the Best XI lineup I posted a few days ago, threatened a good many times from midfield.

On a positive note, the US young guns used their dead-ball and box-packing skills to their utmost, captain and defender Mykell Bates scoring another with his head in the box (this one a messy affair, as opposed to the glorious header versus Belgium which put them through). Josh Lambo put in a hero's performance, keeping Kroos out and the US in for much of the game. I would say that Lambo was nearly the most outstanding player on the pitch, second only to Sukuta-Pasu. I'll be keeping tabs on him as he makes his way through the ranks. Likewise young Mykell Bates; he seems a born leader.

In the end, this result was highly predictable as only a few choice sides present at the tournament look capable of stopping or even slowing the Germans enough to beat them.

Sorry, boys. Better luck next time.

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