The U.S. U-20 national team tied host Portugal, 1-1, in its opening game of the 7th Annual Madeira International Tournament.
''For 65 minutes we were clearly the better team, but we tired in the later stages of the match and unfortunately conceded the equalizer,'' said U.S. coach Thomas Rongen. ôWe are a good team and if we can sustain the level of play we showed for the first 60 minutes or so, then we can get to where we want to be. We are getting there slowly but surely.''
Mike Magee scored for the United States just after halftime, pouncing on a rebound from a well-saved blast by forward Knox Cameron.
The USA takes on Norway March 5.
Portugal did not qualify for the World Youth Championship (March 27-April 16) for which the USA is preparing.
GAME SUMMARY:
March 4 in Machico, Portugal
Portugal 1 USA 1. Goals: Lourenco 63; Magee 50.
Portugal — Vale, Laranjeiro, Vitor Rodrigues, Andre Vilas Boas (Filipe Falardo, 66), Ribeiro; Meireles, Mario Carlos (Jose Castro, 73), Davide, Joao Paiva (Custodio Castro, 34); Danny (Figueiredo, 60), 13-Lourenco.
USA — Cronin, Harvey, Marshall, Cochrane, Klaas, Mapp, Clark, Convey, Barclay, Magee (Grabavoy, 84), Cameron (Johnson, 84).