The U.S. under-17 boys national team recovered from a 3-0 loss to Brazil in its first game to defeat Mexico, 2-0, and Portugal, 4-2, at the Nike National Team Friendlies on the Nike Campus in Beaverton, Ore.
A pair of defenders, Mykell Bates and Sheanon Williams, combined for five goals against Mexico and Portugal. Williams scored in the 21st minute, and Bates added an insurance goal in the 58th minute for the USA, which dominated the game against Mexico. The game marked the debut of Sierra Leone-born forward Israel Sesay, who just received his citizenship papers. Sesay and Ethiopian immigrant Adbus Ibrahim were added to the U.S. roster for the Oregon tournament.
The USA cruised to an early lead against Portugal, going up by three goals before the 20th minute as Bates twice headed home for his second and third goals of the weekend andáWilliams buried a penalty kick. Midfielder Danny Barerra finished off the scoring for the U.S. just a minute before halftime.
ôIf you would have told me we would have four goals before the end of the first half, I wouldnÆt have believed you, but we really finished well during the first 40 minutes which allowed us to take control of the match,ö said U.S. coach John Hackworth. ôWe didnÆt play as well as I would have liked in the second half as our players seemed to relax a bit with such a big lead. Overall, though, IÆm pleased with the two victories during the event and the ability we had to give a number of players some international experience.ö