The U.S. U-17s beat their Guatemalan counterparts twice in three days in Bradenton, Fla. Guatemala, which aims to reach the U-17 World Cup for the first time in history, is coached by American Tim Hankinson, who coached in MLS in 1998-2004. Israel Sesay, a Sierra Leone native who recently obtained U.S. citizenship, scored twice for the USA in a 3-0 win Sept. 15. Ryan Finley notched a first-half hat trick in a 6-2 win Sept. 17.
Sept. 15
USA 3 Guatelama 0
Goals: Ellis McLoughlin (Bryan Dominguez) 17, Israel Sesay (Abdusalam Ibrahim) 70, Israel Sesay (Jose Altimorano) 73.
USA — Josh Lambo, Sheanon Williams, Brandon Lee (Aubrey Perry, 72), Greg Garza (Jose Altimorano, 72), Mykell Bates, Jared Jeffrey, Ryan Gracia (Jose Altimorano, 64), Israel Sesay, Danny Barerra, Ellis McLoughlin, Bryan Dominguez (Abdusalam Ibrahim, 46)
Guatemala — Rodrigo Siekavizza, Byron De La Cruz (n/a, 82), Dagoberto Arriolla (Alfredo Allen, 12), Robert Alonzo, Cesar Molina (n/a, 69), Edgar Macal (Byron Vega, 72), Carlos Morales (Luis Martinez, 87), Cesar Diaz (Gerardo Sanchez, 73), Jose Figueroa, Bryan Ordonez (Angelo Padilla, 70), David Aroche
Sept. 17
USA 6 Guatemala 2
Goals: Ryan Finley (Matt Uy), Ryan Finley (Zac MacMatch), Ryan Finley (Brendan King), TJ Nelson (Brandon Zimmerman), Evan Raynr (Jose Altimorano), Kirk Urso (Dersu Albofathi); Edgar Macal, Byron Vega (Edgar Vega)
USA — Zac MacMath (David Meves, 46), TJ Nelson (Zarek Valentin, 68), Howard Turk, Lonnie Carter, Matt Uy (Kofi Sarkodie, 48), Brandon Zimmerman (Amobi Okugo, 68), Kirk Urso, Jesse Paredes (Scott Caldwell, 65), Brendan King, Evan Raynr, 58), Axel Levry (Jose Altimorano, 58), Ryan Finley (Dersu Albofathi, 68)
Guatemala — Rodrigo Siekavizza; Byron De La Cruz, Robert Alonzo, Cesar Molina, Alfredo Allen (Gerardo Sanchez, 46), Cesar Diaz, Dagoberto Arriolla, Jose Figueroa (Bryan Ordonez, 46), Edgar Macal (Byron Vega, 68), David Aroche (Angelo Padilla, 76, Carlos Morales (Luis Martinez, 83)