Player Ratings: Italy U-17 2-1 USA U-17

Italy

Francesco Bardi 9: If there was not a goalie competition in the Italian camp before this game, there is one now. He was brilliant in all aspects of the game. He should be credited for an assist on the first goal. He stopped a penalty kick, and a shot from 8 yards out. The goal was not his fault.

Felice Natalino 5: The fullback did well at times to try to slow down the American attack, but he was beat around the edges at times and at the start of both halves he conceded chances.

Federico Mannini 3: It was a nightmare start for Mannini and the game did not get any better for him. He was cautioned early which means he is out for  the next game. Minutes later he gave up a penalty kick without any pressure on him.

Simone Sini 5: The captain kept the team in order and weathered through some of the storm when the U.S. went on the attack.

Lorenzo Crisetig 5: He seemed to be running on tired legs in the second half. He put in plenty of work in the midfield in the first half.
 
Alessandro De Vitis 6: Capitalized on the wealth of space in the first half in the midfield. Had a quiet second half.

Giacomo Beretta 8.5: He was strong on the ball. His goal was very well taken. He should have had two or three but he scored the first one and that was all the Italians needed of him.

Michele Camporese 5: In comparison to his center back partner, his day looked great. But he was beat to the end line a few times and he was lucky that Bardi saved him a few times too.

Pietro Iemmello 8.5: It was an exquisite header to send his fellow forward in for the first goal. It was an even better strike to give the Azzurrini the game winner.

Marco Fossati 7: He was good in the attack and very involved in the play in the first half. In the second, the Italian chances dwindled and so did his effect on the game.

Federico Carraro 8: The tremendously skilled Florentina youngster was dangerous on the ball. His free roaming role behind the strikes gave the U.S. defense fits in the first half.

Substitutes

Leonardo Bianchi 5: He was in there to keep possession of the ball and not let the U.S. generate chances. He did an acceptable job in both categories.

Alessando Scialpi 4: His free kick late in the game was a terrible effort. His other contributions to the match were minimal.

Simone Benedetti 3: Brought on as an extra defender in the last minutes of the game, but he did not prevent any U.S. attack.

USA

Earl Edwards 6: It is hard to blame Edwards for either goal. He did stop a breakaway in the second half and he was quick off his line in the first to keep the Italians honest.

Jared Watts 4: He gave away too much space to the Italian forwards. It looked as if he respected them too much. His defensive lapse almost made the score 3-1. 

Tylar Polak 4.5: He did venture into the attack a handful of times, but he did not produce any clear cut chances to show for it. His turnover with seconds left was inexcusable.

Eriq Zavaleta 4: Same problems as Watts. He also did not need to concede the foul or the red card in the dying seconds but that had little to do with the final result.
 
Zachary Herold 4: He kept Beretta onside on the first goal. He was beat often by the strike tandem. He did not offer the U.S. anything going forward.

Marlon Duran 6: He had trouble with the Italians in the first half. He seemed lost on where he should have been defensively. After instructions at half time, he played a great second half.

Nicholas Palodichuk 7: His goal was an excellent finish. He was decent in the first half but very good in the second.

Alex Shinsky 6.5: To his credit, his motor never stopped working. He needed more chances with the ball to use his speed.

Luis Gil 9: The performance he gave today should go down in Youth Team legend, but it will be overshadowed by terrible finishing and unlucky bounces. The bicycle kick, the skillful dribbling in the midfield, and the assist on the goal. Do yourself a favor and remember what we just saw a 15 year old do.

Stefan Jerome 6.5: He had a few moments out there where it looked like the Italians were scared to defend him. His speed and power made them back up to their end line but his touch and vision let him down a few times.

Jack McInerney 5: He was very involved in the play. He had a ton of touches on the ball, but he never had the final touch today. When the U.S. needed a true striker the most, he did not show up to play.

Substitutes

Dominick Sarle 4: He did not do much of anything in his 25+ minutes on the field. His attempt at crossing failed to produce anything.

Victor Chavez 5: If he finishes that chance, he looks like the best substitution ever made, but he squandered the shot. Chavez plays hard, he just needs to be better inside the box.

Juan Agudelo 6: In less than ten minutes on the field, he created two goal scoring chances. His touch was still a bit heavy , but his speed really shined against tired legs.

J.R. Eskilson, Goal.com

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