Sporting Kansas City Academy defender Jaylin Lindsey and the United States U-17 Men’s National Team clinched the 2016 Nike International Friendlies title on Sunday with a 3-0 victory against Brazil at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
Lindsey, 16, started all three matches during the prestigious youth tournament as the U.S. cruised to emphatic wins against Portugal, Turkey and Brazil, claiming its third Nike International Friendlies championship since 2010 and its first since 2013.
Led by head coach John Hackworth, the U.S. U-17s opened the competition with a 7-1 demolition of Portugal last Wednesday. Lindsey played the full 90 minutes at right back, while captain Josh Sargent scored a hat-trick and fellow forward Andrew Carleton bagged a brace.
The Americans collected another comfortable win two days later, defeating Turkey 5-1 as Lindsey played 71 minutes. After falling behind in the 4th minute, the U.S. responded with two goals each from Carleton and Ayo Akinola before Tomothy Weah added a fifth in the final moments.
The tournament title was up for grabs Sunday when the U.S. met world powerhouse Brazil, and the hosts responded to the challenge with flying colors. Akinola opened the scoring just before halftime, Sargent doubled the lead six minutes after the restart, and Weah notched a third late in stoppage time to seal the championship in dominant fashion. Lindsey played 90 minutes in the shutout effort as Brazil was limited to two shots on goal.
U.S. Soccer Recaps
The Nike International Friendlies took place in Lakewood Ranch in conjunction with this weekend’s U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase, where the Sporting Kansas City U-18s and U-16s competed against some of the top youth teams from across the country.
2016 Nike International Friendlies Final Standings
<strong>TEAM</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>D</strong> |
<strong>PTS</strong> |
<strong>GF</strong> |
<strong>GA</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
USA |
3 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
15 |
2 |
+13 |
Brazil |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
8 |
-1 |
Portugal |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
10 |
-4 |
Turkey |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
11 |
-8 |
Lindsey has started nine of 11 appearances for the U.S. since joining the U-17 Residency program in Bradenton, Florida, in August. He had spent the previous three months with the Swope Park Rangers, the USL affiliate of Sporting Kansas City. Lindsey signed an Academy contract with the Rangers on May 6 and made his professional debut a day later against Saint Louis FC, becoming the first American player born in the 2000s to play in a professional match.
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Lindsey competed with the Sporting KC Academy at the 2016 USSDA playoffs in June and July before earning his first USL start versus Reach Monarchs on Aug. 13.
