41114_isi_ramostab_usmntmj040214242_(1) Michael Janosz/isiphotos.com
The Dallas Cup

Tab Ramos' U-20 Squad Prepares for the Dallas Cup

The weeklong Dallas Cup, which starts on Sunday, presents U.S. under-20 coach Tab Ramos with a tremendous opportunity to test his young players in a highly competitive environment.
BY Josh Deaver Posted
April 11, 2014
11:15 AM
ON WEDNESDAY U.S. UNDER-20 men’s national team head coach Tab Ramos released the 21-man roster that will compete at the 35th annual Dallas Cup tournament, to be held from April 13-20 in Dallas.

The mostly domestic squad contains a healthy mix of collegiate standouts, U.S. development academy products, homegrown MLS players, as well as full professionals from England, France, Mexico, and Brazil. Nineteen of the 21 players called were in attendance for either November’s training camp in Verona, Italy, or the most recent domestic U-20 camp, held in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., in early January. Here's the squad.

GOALKEEPERS Santiago Castano (NewYork Red Bulls; Union City, N.J.), Zack Steffen (Maryland; Downington, Pa.)

DEFENDERS Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake; Rochester, N.Y.), Michael Amick (UCLA; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Sullaiman Dainkeh (Maryland; Reston, Va.), Trevor Haberkorn (Furman; Roanoke, Texas), Matthew Miazga (New York Red Bulls; Clifton, N.J.), Shaquell Moore (Unattached; Powder Springs, Ga.), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting KC; Lee’s Summit, Mo.), John Requejo Jr. (Real So Cal; Carpinteria, Calif.), Jesus Vazquez (UANL Tigres; San Luis Obispo, Calif.)

MIDFIELDERS Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; Plano, Texas), Marco Delgado (Chivas USA; Glendora, Calif.), Luis Felipe (Cruzeiro; Ouro Branco, Brazil), Romain Gall (FC Lorient; Herndon, Va.), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland; Santa Cruz, Calif.)

FORWARDS Benji Lopez (Real Salt Lake; San Diego, Calif.), Amando Moreno (Club Tijuana; Morganville, N.J.), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union; Dresher, Pa.), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht; Beaverton, Ore.), Ben Spencer (Indy Eleven; Albuquerque, N.M.)

With an experienced core—one which includes youth squad mainstays like Shaquell Moore, Kelyn Acosta and Rubio Rubin—Ramos has also brought two newcomers to the under-20 fold. UANL Tigres defender Jesus Vasquez has never before suited up for the United States, while 16-year-old Sporting KC signee (and reported Juventus target) Erik Palmer-Brown, the only player called to be born in 1997,will be playing up with the older group, having previously competed with the U.S. under-17 squad. Fellow newcomer Luis Felipe (Cruzeiro; Brazil) will be making his second appearance for the national team after securing his U20 debut in January.

In Dallas, the team will be competing as part of the Men’s U19 Gordon Jago Super Group, the premier attraction of the tournament which will feature youth squads from Fluminese, Anderlecht, Chivas, and defending champions Fulham, among others.

The Americans will compete in Bracket C along with Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt, Mexico’s UANL Tigres, and Argentina’s River Plate. The American side will kick off the tournament against River Plate at the Cotton Bowl Stadium on Sunday.

More information, including ticket availability, is available at DallasCup.com.

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