Courtesy of:- Ray Lo, and the Spurs List.
IMG Boys Invitation Tournament – Super group
Thursday 20th December 12.05pm – Round three
Spurs 6(1) v 2(1) US U-17 National
Spurs:– (White/Blue)4-3-3 – McGee,Walker-Peters, Carter-Vickers, Ogilvie,
Amos(McQueen 46), Miller(Lesniak 68), Onomah(Walkes 84), Winks(Goddard 80),
Sonupe(Michael-Percil 68), Harrison(Akindayini 80), Oduwa ,
Unused Subs. - Priestley, Vincent-Young,, Pritchard,
Scorers:– Harrison 39, 50, McQueen 73, Michael-Percil 80, 90+2, Oduwa 88
Booked:– Onomah 24(High foot)
US National:– (All Blue)4-3-3 – Silva, Olosunde, Nelson, Barbir, Velela, Calvillo,Wright,
Zendejas, Pulisic, Da Silva, Gallardo
Scorers:– Pulisic 24, Wright 53
Booked:– Wright 70(Verbals)
Sent off:– Olosunde 70(Dangerous Play)
It was a warm evening at the IMG Academy Stadium for this match which was the first paying event of the Tournament and a new experience for the organisers. Because of the running track around the pitch I took binoculars and also tried the live stream of the match. Unfortunately the stream was a little over a minute behind real time and kept freezing.
Spurs lined up with McGee back in goal behind a defensive pairing of Carter-Vickers and Ogilvie with Walker-Peters at right back and Amos on the left. An attacking midfield of Winks, Miller and Onomah showed the intention of McDermott as was Harrison leading the line with Sonupe on the right and Oduwa on the left.
Spurs kicked off attacking the south end passing at pace looking to pass their way through the Americans' defence. While the U-17's found themselves on the back foot they had no intention of sitting back and we were treated to an open game of football. The referee played his part in trying to keep the game moving despite some mis-timed tackles, keeping his cards in his pocket.
Oduwa provided the opening effort with a shot that flew wide. Silva saved from Harrison before Gallardo fired over after picking up a clearance by McGee. Sonupe got round the back but the keeper saved at his feet. Sonupe did get a shot away a minute later that went wide. Against the run of play the Americans went in front. They were awarded a free kick some 20 yards out. Pulisic struck his kick over the wall inside the near post.
Onomah was booked going for a high ball almost catching his opponent in the face. Oduwa drew a save and then fired wide with Onomah winning a corner in between as Spurs reacted to going behind. Zendejas went wide from a corner before Spurs drew level when Harrison netted from Sonupe's cross at the near post. Spurs were happy to go into the break on level terms.
Spurs made one change for the second half introducing McQueen at centre back for Amos with Ogilvie moving to left back. The game continued as it left off in the first half with Oduwa playing in Sonupe for a chance that was saved. Nelson carried the ball out from the back and firing wide. Spurs took the lead when Onomah played the ball to Harrison on the edge of the area. The striker received the ball with his back to goal, took a touch to control it, and then hit it on the turn low into the corner of the net.
The lead did not last long as when Spurs tried to clear the ball on the right. it was picked up by Zendejas who got into the area and crossed for Wright to score at the far post.
Spurs increased the pressure and Ogilvie attacked through the left channel but fired over. Onomah and then Miller both had efforts driven wide. Sonupe got round the back but the keeper got across to save at the near post at the expense of a corner. From Winks' corner Carter-Vickers' header was saved. The centre-back then gave the ball away to Gallardo but he was relieved to see him fire wide.
Miller fired wide after being played through by Winks who then played in Harrison for a chance that he put wide. After Pulisic fired over Spurs made two changes. Miller was replaced by Lesniak in midfield and Michael-Percil replaced Sonupe on the right wing. Lesniak played in Harrison for an effort that was saved.
We then had the incident that changed the game. Oduwa had been having a battle with Olosunde and Wright all game on the left flank and when his run was stopped by a two footed tackle by Olosunde the ref showed him a red card and Wright was given a yellow for arguing the point. From the free kick near the corner, McQueen headed Spurs' third goal.
With ten men the National side could not contain Spurs and Oduwa played in Harrison for a shot that hit the near post. Harrison had another shot that deflected off a defender and was saved by the quick reactions of the keeper, only for Michael-Percil to nip in and score from the rebound.
With the game won Spurs made more changes. Harrison(who had scored two goals) was replaced up front by Akindayini and Goddard came on for Winks. Ogilvie saw his free kick saved for a corner before Walkes replaced Onomah. Spurs looked to see out the game but when the ball came to Oduwa in the centre circle he ran at the American defence before driving the ball low into the net for a fifth goal. He had another chance when Lesniak played him in but Silva saved his effort. A sixth goal came in added time when Michael-Percil got on the end of Akindayini's cross.
P W D L F-A Pts.
Cruzeiro 3 3 0 0 8-2 9
Spurs 3 2 1 0 11-4 7
Stevenage 3 1 1 1 4-5 4
IMG 3 1 0 2 4-5 3
Alliance 2 1 0 1 3-1 3
Queretaro 2 1 0 1 2-4 3
US U-17 3 0 1 2 3-9 1
Baltimore 3 0 1 2 2-6 1
Ray
