[YOUTH] The U.S. under-20 national team finished with a 1-1-3 record at the Copa Chivas in Mexico and did not advance to the quarterfinals. It did find a new talent in 17-year-old Felix Garcia, a high school student at L.B. Johnson High School in Laredo, Texas, and a member of the 2007 PDL champion Laredo Heat.
The U-20s beat Santos of Mexico, 2-0, after tying Club America of Mexico, 2-2, UAG of Mexico, 1-1, Estudiantes of Argentina, 1-1, and losing to Lokomotiv Moscow, 1-0. They finished in fourth place in six-team Group B and did not advance to the quarterfinals.
Garcia, who hit the game winning penalty kick that gave the Heat the 2007 PDL title, led the U-20s with three goals.
Among the players in Thomas Rongen‘s U.S. squad that played five games in five days were recent FC Dallas draft pick Josh Lambo and Real Salt Lake selection Alex Nimo, both former U.S. U-17 national team players. Also in the squad was Jorge Flores, the 2007 Sueno MLS Chivas USA winner.
Copa Chivas consists of 24 teams — 12 Mexican and 12 foreign. Also entered was Chivas USA’s youth team, which finished last in its group with one win and one tie in five games.
In Saturday’s semifinals, Guadalajara of Mexico will face its sister club, Saprissa of Costa Rica, while Atlas, another Guadalajara team, will meet Real Madrid.