21913_rodriguezmario_isi_yntbs022711181 Brad Smith/isiphotos.com
2.19.13

ASN Morning Read: A Nervy Victory for the U-20s

Mario Rodriguez and the United States U-20 squad escapes with a 2-1 victory over Haiti in the opening match of the CONCACAF Championship; Brek Shea nears his debut; FIFA enters the 21st century.
BY Jesse Yomtov Posted
February 19, 2013
7:46 AM
  • The U-20s started off the CONCACAF Championship with a 2-1 win over Haiti. Luis Gil converted a penalty kick in the third minute to give the U.S. an early 1-0 lead after Daniel Cuevas was brought down in the penalty area. In the 26th, Cuevas blasted in a goal far post from a tight angle. Haiti scored in the 49th minute to make it a one-score game and was largely in control of the second half, squandering a number of opportunities to equalize. It wasn’t pretty, but three points is three points. “There were some good moments for us, but we have to maintain that for a longer period of time if we are going to be successful in this tournament,” Tab Ramos said. If Costa Rica beats Haiti tomorrow, the U.S. clinches a spot in the quarterfinals.

    Here’s Cuevas’ tasty strike:

    DaMarcus Beasley was in attendance, albeit running behind schedule: And offered his scouting report on Haiti’s Jean Dany Maurice:

  • Brek Shea started and played 60 minutes in a closed-doors friendly against third-tier Scunthorpe United. Sure it was a meaningless match, but a number of Stoke’s regulars also played, which might mean that manager Tony Pulis plans to deploy Shea soon. His real debut could come on Saturday against Fulham.

  • Americans Outlaws’ D.C. chapter has a shot of some of the new U.S. centennial swag. That Donovan shirsey doesn’t seem too timely right now, eh?:

  • Joe Gyau wasn’t in the 18 for St. Pauli’s 1-0 loss to Cologne, which Steven Goff reports was due to a sore knee and that he’s due back next week.

  • FIFA got with it and says that it will use goal-line technology at the 2014 World Cup, as well as this summer’s Confederations Cup. The camera-based Hawk-Eye system and GoalRef, which uses magnetic sensors, were used at the Club World Cup in December, and FIFA says two new German systems have completed tests.

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