Got Milk (Cup)? Lessons From USA U-20 MNT Cup Victory

First off, forgive the terrible pun…it really just had to be done, I couldn't help myself.

Moving on now, the US U-20 MNT today was victorious in the 2010 Milk Cup.

The Milk Cup, held annually in Northern Ireland, is one of the more prestigious youth tournaments in the world.

The current US squad features several faces that have a shot at making it to the senior side at some point.  I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Omar Salgado at the earliest possible opportunity.

Salgado’s name has popped into the headlines a lot recently, beginning with what the Mexican national team will likely see as a defection.  Salgado was most recently attached to Chivas de Guadalejara, one of the Mexican league’s most storied clubs.  They have made a policy of only signing members of El Tri, a requirement Salgado met due to his dual citizenship.

Then he accepted US U-20 coach Thomas Rongen’s invitation to play for the Yanks in the Milk Cup, where the Mexican squad would also play.  Salgado’s inclusion in the US side marks what is essentially another recruiting victory for the Americans.  Salgado is only 16 years old, but scored the game-winning (and only) goal for the Yanks in their first Milk Cup game, against China.  He represents a hope for the United States moving forward.

Salgado’s athleticism was on display when he scored his goal against China.  The 6’4” El Paso, Texas native leapt over his marker to notch his first international goal in his first international appearance at any level.  Such height automatically gives Salgado a leg up on many in being able to get on the end of long balls as well as making him an increased threat in the box from set pieces.

As a striker, Salgado will have many more opportunities to claim a place in the senior squad than many of his peers.  The Yanks’ shallowest position at the moment is at the striker spot, and although Salgado is very young, he would be 20 when the US would take the field in Brazil, assuming they qualify.  Jozy Altidore, the youngest player for the US squad in this past World Cup, was also just 20.

Salgado's decision to play for the United States has ensured a speedy exit from Mexico.  He has already signed a Generation Adidas contract with MLS and will reportedly be entered in the 2011 MLS Draft to see where he will continue his club play.  Either way, with how he has played at this tournament, he will have plenty of suitors both domestically and abroad.

Juan Agudelo, another player many American faithful were curious about going into this tournament, put his full range of talents on display in the final.  After barely missing one goal and then having a legitimate goal called back it was Agudelo that put in the Americans’ second goal of the match. 

His swerving shot from the top of the 18-yard box went into the Northern Irish net just beneath the crossbar.  As the BBC commentators covering the match said, “He feels he should’ve had a hat trick by now, doesn’t he?”

Agudelo is currently on the books with New York Red Bulls in MLS, although he trialed with Millonarios of the Columbian league.  Of Columbian heritage, Agudelo has represented the United States at both the U-17 and U-20 level, also scoring the lone American goal in a 1-1 draw with Brazil’s U-20 squad in January of 2010.  He has notched three appearances for the full New York squad, and at only 17 years old, he appears to have a very bright future.

And there is yet another attacker that has turned a few heads at the Milk Cup in the form of Adrian Ruelas.  Currently with the Mexican Primera’s Santos Laguna, Ruelas was one of the strongest players in the Americans’ 3-2 victory over Denmark.  He put his name on the scoresheet twice in that match, keeping the Americans alive in a very back and forth match.  Ruelas put in what was really the final nail in the coffin against Northern Ireland in the Milk Cup final, another very technically skillful goal. 

Although he did represent Mexico at a lower youth level, he has switched allegiances to the United States permanently.  Standing 6’0” and possessing great technical ability, Ruelas is yet another of this U-20 squad to watch out for in the future.

Another player who we are learning more about in this tournament is a hope for the future of the American defense in Gale Agbossoumonde.  Currently on loan at Portugal’s Sporting Braga, Agbossoumonde was a fixture at the back for the United States.  Setting aside a red card given in a heated encounter between the center back and several of Northern Ireland’s defenders after American ‘keeper Zac MacMath was brought down, Agbossoumonde played with great poise.

Starting every match in the heart of defense, the 6’2” center back helped the US to a clean sheet in its first match.  In the second match, the US was tabbed for two goals, and although they were caused by a pair of defensive miscues, the blame does not fall on Agbossoumonde’s shoulders in either case. 

Moving forward, Agbossoumonde captained the side in the tournament final before being sent off in the 75^th minute of the affair.  Assuming he can continue to show well in these youth tournaments, Agbossoumonde may find himself quickly on the senior side’s radar.  Certainly his ability both to take and score from set pieces will be an intriguing benefit to future American sides.  “The Boss” scored the opening goal in the cup final against Northern Ireland, putting a free kick into the back of the net after blasting the ball through the Northern Irish wall.

Finally, we learned a few things about some of the youth goalkeepers in the American stable.  Thomas Rongen brought a pair of well known youth names, Zac MacMath, currently affiliated with the University of Maryland, started a pair of games for the Yanks.  More importantly, however, he was given the start in the final, a side consisting of players that Rongen felt had impressed the most during group play.

MacMath’s name has been popping up every so often since his time with the United States at the 2007 U-17 World Cup.  He looked steady at the back in his games, and he will be another to keep an eye on in the future.  He has recently been rumored to be making a move to Everton, according to the BBC, and it is current top American ‘keeper Tim Howard who is helping facilitate such a move.

MacMath was a relatively known quantity at this point, but it was FC Porto youth player Samir Badr who proved most interesting to observe.  A product of DC United’s academy, Badr split minutes equally with MacMath, starting the 3-2 victory that sent the US to the final. 

He did have a pair of miscommunications with his defenders which ultimately caused the two goals that were charged against him.  However, his athleticism was certainly on display during the tournament.  Badr will look to continue to hone his abilities, especially his positioning and ability to read the game, moving forward in a Porto youth system that is one of the strongest in Europe.

A lot can be taken from this Yank squad’s performance in Northern Ireland, but one thing is certain: A very, very talented crop of players will begin to filter into the American ranks in the near future.