The U.S. under-17 national recovered from a 3-0 loss to host South Korea to tie South American U-17 champion Argentina, 2-2, Monday, at the Busan International Youth Tournament.
Guillermo Gonzalez's late penalty earned a tie for the Americans. Corey Ashe had scored in the 38th minute off a rebound after Eddie Gaven's shot hit the post. The USA-Argentina game featured five shots off the woodwork.
With central defender Jonathan Spector out 3-6 weeks after fracturing his left clavicle against Korea and two other regular starters unable to make the trip, the U.S. backline had a new look with Steve Curfman on the left, Julian Valentin in the middle and Brandon Owens on the right.
The South Korea-USA game drew 35,000 fans at Busan Asiad Main Stadium, a World Cup 2002 venue. The Koreans scored three second-half goals to hand the Americans their worst defeat in a U-17 international in more than a year. The game marked the first appearance this year of Stoke City youngster Jay Denny.
U.S. SOCCER: U.S. under-17 summaries
May 31 in Busan
South Korea 3 USA 0. Lee S.H. 51, Yang 79, 86.
USA — Marfuggi, Helton (Harrington, 80), Spector (Valentin, 4), Owens, Curfman, Gonzalez, DiRaimondo, Ashe (Watson, 70), Grazier (Szetela, 70), Adu, Gaven
South Korea — Cha (Kim D.H., 90), Lee G.J. (Hwang, 61), Kang, Lee S.Y. (Jung, 82), Park T.M., Kim J.H. (Kang, 88), Lee Y.R. (Lee S.H., 46), Baek, Jun Kim (Cho, 79), Yang, Lee H.
June 2 in Busan
USA 2 Argentina 2. Goals: Ashe 38, Gonzalez pen. 72; Colzera 14, 64.
USA — Marfuggi, Valentin, Owens, Curfman, Gaven, DiRaimondo (Peterson, 60), Ashe, Grazier, Szetela (Denny, 80), Adu, Gonzalez.
Argentina — Ustari, Garay, Formica, Coronel (Sanchez, 46), Cardozo, Villagra, Colzera (Steinert, 75), Rodas (Faurlin, 46), Cahais (DÆAlegre, 57), Diaz, Luduena (Peirone, 46).