CARSON, Calif. – The Under-20 United States Men’s National Team are the 2014 National Training Center Invitational Champions following a scoreless draw against Australia on Friday.
The 0-0 draw against Australia resulted in both teams finishing with seven points, making the US the tournament champions with a +5 goal difference, one better than Australia’s goal difference of +4.
Grande Sports Academy alumnus Romain Gall, who started all three matches for the US, came close to scoring in the 21st minute when his free kick from 23 yards out smashed into the upper left corner of goal and bounced out of play. Fellow alum Benji Lopez came on as a substitute for Lynden Gooch in the 89th minute after playing extended minutes in each of the US’s first two games.
The US kicked off the tournament with a 2-1 comeback win over Chile. Against Bermuda in the second match of the three-game tournament, Gall started and played 64 minutes before being substituted for Fernando Arce while Lopez played the final 26 minutes of the 4-0 win after replacing Tommy Thompson.
The U-20 USMNT continues preparations for the start of 2015 U-20 World Cup Qualifying, which begins in January. Gall returns to FC Lorient in France while Real Salt Lake’s Lopez returns to Arizona United SC, where he is currently on loan.