U-23 USMNT

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U-23 Camp: Taylor has a few tricks up his sleeve

Atlético pro already knows 4-3-3 formation, boasts valuable experience [/B][/COLOR]

DUISBURG, Germany — It may not be the first name United States fans think of when pondering next summer's squad for the Olympic Games in London, but Tony Taylor just happens to have a few aces up his sleeve for making it.

The 22-year-old forward is currently enjoying the initial Under-23 camp in Germany's Ruhr Vally. The group, which offically begins the drive for Olympic gold, is filled with a wealth of exciting young attackers.

With new U-23 boss Caleb Porter currently busy with his University of Akron job, all these talents are soaking up knowledge on the mandated 4-3-3 system from coaches Claudio Reyna and Tab Ramos.


www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/11/12/u-23-camp-taylor-has-few-tricks-his-sleeve

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US U-23s hold senior team 1-1 in second scrimmage
Zusi, McInerney score in U-23s' final tuneup before Costa Rica trip


CARSON, Calif. – The United States Under-23 national team provided a much stiffer test for the US senior national team in their second scrimmage on Tuesday evening, battling their older counterparts to a 1-1 draw at the Home Depot Center.

Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi opened the scoring for the USMNT in the first half, but Philadelphia Union forward Jack McInerney equalized for the U-23s in the second half.

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/01/18/us-u-23s-hold-senior-team-1-1-second-scrimmage

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Adu takes on next chapter as U-23 leader
Adu's journey has new twist as he aims for Olympic redemption


CARSON, Calif. – It’s been an enormously productive week in January camp for US Soccer, as both the senior and Under-23 national teams have trained for more than a week literally side by side on adjacent practice fields at the Home Depot Center.

The interplay has been frequent, both in twin scrimmages between the squads – in which some players, like Teal Bunbury and Bill Hamid, played for both sides – and in the trickle-down of philosophy from Jurgen Klinsmann to Caleb Porter.

But there’s one thing that’s still a little mind-blowing: watching Freddy Adu quarterback the U-23s and realizing that, at age 22, he has more senior US caps than all but four players on the 20-man senior squad.

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/01/19/throw-adu-takes-next-chapter-u-23-leader

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US U-23s close January camp with win at Alajuelense

Taylor's goal gives Olympic hopefuls a 1-0 victory in Costa Rica

The United States U-23 national team closed out the second leg of training camp ahead of Olympic qualifying on a high note, defeating an Alajuelense concoction of first-teamers and reserves 1-0 on Tuesday afternoon in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Forward Tony Taylor was lone goal scorer, finding the net in the 39th minute after a good build-up from the young Americans.

“We pressured them and did everything we could to win,” Taylor told the Costa Rican club’s website after the match. “[Alajuelense] are a good team, they showed great touch.”

The victory was the first for the US U-23s throughout their January camp, which featured a 4-0 loss and a 1-1 tie in scrimmages against the US men’s national team, and a scoreless tie against the Saprissa reserves on Saturday.

The US U-23s begin CONCACAF Olympic qualifying play on March 22 against Cuba in Nashville, Tenn. They will then face Canada on March 24 and close out Group A competition against El Salvador on March 26.

The Americans must reach the final of the qualifying tournament – which includes Mexico, Honduras, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago in Group B – to participate in the Olympics.

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/01/24/us-u-23s-close-january-camp-win-alajuelense

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Shea, Agudelo highlight Porter's Under-23 camp roster


A total of 15 MLS players highlighted the 23-man roster announced on Thursday for the US Under-23 national team's training camp and showdown against Mexico on Feb. 29.

Head coach Caleb Porter’s group will take on Mexico on Feb. 29 at FC Dallas Stadium (10 pm ET, Univision), while CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying begins on March 22. The 10-day camp opens on Feb. 19.

Porter’s group is headlined by a number of MLS players with senior team experience, arguably none bigger than FC Dallas star and 2011 league MVP candidate Brek Shea. The Texas native has appeared in all nine of the US national team matches under head coach Jurgen Klinsmann since last summer.

GOALKEEPERS (2):
Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)

DEFENDERS (7):
Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Perry Kitchen (D.C. United), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Ike Opara (San Jose Earthquakes), Kofi Sarkodie (Houston Dynamo), Zarek Valentin (Montreal Impact), Jorge Villafaña (Chivas USA)

MIDFIELDERS (6):
Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Gent), Dilly Duka (Columbus Crew), Jared Jeffrey (Mainz), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union), Michael Stephens (LA Galaxy)

FORWARDS (8):
Freddy Adu (Philadelphia Union), Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Joe Gyau (Hoffenheim), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Tony Taylor (Estoril Praia)

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/02/16/shea-agudelo-highlight-porters-under-23-camp-roster

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Shea sticks it to FCD as US U-23s come out on top


FRISCO, Texas — It was an eventful day for Brek Shea and the US Under-23 national team on Wednesday, one in which the FC Dallas midfielder scored the winner in a scrimmage against his own club and was then sent off with a second caution.

In a match that featured nine bookings and two ejections, Caleb Porter’s side survived against FCD for a 2-1 victory

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/02/22/shea-sticks-it-fcd-us-u-23s-come-out-top