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Andy Craven Represents US with the National U15 Team in Argentina
Match Report" from Buenos Aires:
The US U15s drew 2-2 with Argentina on the strength of a late controversial goal awarded the home
side by the linesman in the 73rd minute. The match was played at the Argentine Soccer Federation's
national training center outside Buenos Aires. Andy started up front in the single striker formation.
From the kickoff the US looked the more aggressive and committed side and produced a number of
threatening chances through the first 15-20 minutes and were disappointed not to have gotten a goal for
their efforts. As the half wore on Argentina began to assert their superior ball skill and claimed their
share of the run of play , forcing the 6'3", 205, US keeper Earl Edwards from San Diego to make 2
outstanding saves later in the half. The two sides were level at 0-0 at the half and both breathing hard.
The Argentines made one sub at the half, bringing on a speedy striker who was to make a quick impact.
The US brought on North Meck's Jared Watts in the midfield as well as Region 1 left back Alex
Brammel from Newburg, NY. In the 8th minute Argentina sprang their speedy forward with a ball down
the left flank who carried the ball into the penalty area, juked the keeper and slid the ball into the open
net. The US responded by inserting speedy right back Tyler Polak from Lincoln, NB, who was able to
keep him quiet for the remainder of the match.
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Andy Craven - FCSA U15 Player represents the
US in Argentina
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Then, just 2 minutes later, Jared collected the ball in the middle of the field turned his defender and played a streaking Andy through with an inch-perfect
pass. Andy outpaced his marker to the ball, carried it into the area and beat the keeper with a low shot that squeaked under the diving net-minder and into
the right side of the net.
Level at 1-1, the US struck again in the 12th minute of the second half when Donovan Henry ran down a long ball on the right flank and crossed sharply across
the mouth of the goal, finding Charles Renken who slid the ball home on the far post. (Renken is a 13-year-old from St. Louis who is already in the U-17
residency program at Bradenton.) It looked like the US would be able to maintain and possibly increase their advantage, especially when a neat 1-2 with
Renken on the edge of the box put Andy through with only the keeper to beat but Craven's low drive was pushed wide of the post as the keeper went to ground.
Twenty minutes later, just after Andy was substituted by Cobb's Jack McInerny, a spot of controversy was injected when the home side squibbed a loose ball
past the US keeper, only to see it cleared off the line by right back Tyler Polak. The linesman was quick and decisive in flagging "goal" but the US players were
equally quick and decisive in their protests that the ball had never crossed the line. (Observers stationed very near the endline -- namely, me and my son,
Philip -- were unable to say with certainty whether the ball did or did not cross the line. The US players involved in the action were unanimous that it did not.
Only the Argentine linesman seemed immune from the otherwise universal uncertainty.) The goal stood and at the final whistle 7 minutes later the match
ended at 2-2.
After the match the US and Argentine delegations enjoyed a catered reception in the national training center before each group boarded their respective buses
for the journey home.
Earlier the US boys beat Boca Juniors 3-0. Andy didn't start but came on as a sub up front and played 60 minutes, worked hard and had one good chance but
didn't score. The boys have a game each day Fri, Sat, Sun so I think everyone will see a lot of playing time. More later...
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