KINGSTON, JAMAICA (January 12, 2015) – New York Red Bulls defender Matt Miazga started both weekend games for the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team at the 2015 CONCACAF Championship. The U.S. drew 1-1 with Guatemala on Friday night at Independence Park, and fell 1-0 to Panama on Sunday.
Miazga was named the starting left back for the U.S. before the opener against Guatemala. The 19-year-old was sidelined briefly in the first half after suffering a cut over the right eye from an aerial collision with a Guatemalan player, but did return.
Miazga’s partner on the left side of the defense, Cameron Carter-Vickers, gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute, out-leaping Guatemalan defenders on a corner kick to put a header back across the face of goal and inside the right post. The U.S. settled for a draw after allowing a 90th minute goal on a 25-yard volley from Andy Ruiz that found the top left corner of the U.S. goal.
Miazga got more involved offensively in Sunday’s game against Panama, recording two shots, both from just outside the six yard box. The U.S. conceded a goal in the 78th minute, and was unable to find an answer in the final minutes of the contest, dropping to 0-1-1 through two games.
The U.S. sits tied for third place in Group A with Jamaica. They are behind Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago, both tied with four points, and group leader Panama, who has won both of its games so far. The U.S. is back in action on Wednesday against Aruba, which has lost both of its first two contests.
Red Bulls U-18 captain Derrick Etienne, a homegrown product who has been with the Red Bulls for six years, did not see the field in Haiti’s first contest on Saturday, a 3-1 loss to Canada. The loss puts Haiti behind Mexico and Canada, who each won their first game, and El Salvador and Honduras, who drew on the first day of group B play. Haiti returns to action Monday evening with a match against El Salvador at 8 p.m.
