The US U17 team kicked off their the CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Tijuana yesterday by dismantling Cuba 5-0.  US forward and Georgia native, Jack McInerney, scored two goals and provided two assists in the victory.  Luis Gil added a goal and two assists, Stefan Jerome and Sebastian Lletget rounded off the scoring.

The US started off tenatively but were able to break the deadlock in the 31st minute.  Both teams were playing at a furious pace as both teams looke for the early lead.  The US had the best chance early on as McInerney hit the post in 4th minute.  The US began to take control of the game but it didn’t look like it would by McInerney’s day as he hit the post twice.  Fortunately, the ball rebounded off the post into the path of Stefan Jerome for a simple tap in finish.

Minutes later Jerome drew a foul down the left wing. Luis Gil stepped up to take the freekick and drilled a ball into the box that McInerney buried into the back of the net with a powerful header. Lletget rounded off the first half scoring after he collected a rebound near the PK spot.  He brought it down turned and curled a beautiful ball into the corner of the goal.  The US went into the half 3-0.

Shortly after the break, the US was back to scoring.  Luis Gil carried the ball into the 18 yard box and slipped a pass to McInerney for the 4th goal of the day.  Gil got one of his own in the 63rd minute.  He ran onto a diagonal ball from the midfield and dribbled into the box.  With the goalie out of position McInerney took an errant touch that fell back to the feet of Gil for an easy tap in.  The game ended 5-0.

STATS:

Scoring Summary: 1   2    F
USA                              3   2    5
CUB                              0   0   0

USA – Stefan Jerome (Jack McInerney)    31st minute
USA – Jack McInerney (Luis Gil)                 34
USA – Sebastian Lletget                              40
USA – Jack McInerney (Luis Gil)                  48
USA – Luis Gil (Jack McInerney)                 63

Lineup:

1-Earl Edwards

3-Tyler Polak   6-Jared Watts   2-Eriq Zavaleta   4-Perry Kitchen

8-Alex Shinksy   5-Marlon Duran   20-Sebastian Lletget   10-Luis Gil

7-Stefan Jerome    9-Jack McInerney

Subbed: Martinez for Shinksy in 64^th, Gyau for Lletget in 70^th, Craven for Jerome in 75^th

Subs not used: 11-Dustin Corea, 14-Zachary Herold, 17-Juan Agudelo, 18-Spencer Richey,
Subs not available: Emilio Orozco, Nicholas Palodichuk
Head Coach: Wilmer Cabrera

Notes:

Luis Gil is the youngest member of this U17 group.

McInerney has scored 6 goals in 5 games this year. Bringing his career total to 13 goals in 21 games.

Charles Renken, one of the U17 stars, is not on the roster due to a knee injury.  Lletget took his place in the midfield.

Carlos Martinez was kicked off the U17′s about a year ago but has been fully reinstated. He played 25 minutes and should working his way back into the starting lineup.

Cuba recently beat Mexico 2-0.

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