Sounders FC forward Victor Mansaray has been called into U-18 U.S. National Team for the 2015 Copa Chivas Internacional in Guadalajara, Mexico. This is the U-18 MNT’s first competition of 2015 and first since the two-game international set against Germany in mid-December in Marbella, Spain.
Mansaray, 17, signed a Homegrown Player contract with Sounders FC on November 5, 2014 after playing for the Sounders FC Academy since the 2012-13 season. He helped the U.S. U-18 National Team to a 3-0-0 championship run at the International Tournament of Vaclav Jezek in the Czech Republic last August, then started both matches against Germany in December that wrapped-up the 2014 campaign.
The U.S. opens Group A play of the 2015 Copa Chivas Internacional against Monarcas Morelia on Friday, January 30 at 10:00 a.m. PST. The U-18 MNT then faces Cruzeiro Esporte Clube on January 31 at 7:00 a.m. PST, Club Tijuana on February 2 at 7:00 p.m. PST and Club Deportivo Universidad Católica on February 3 at 7:00 a.m. PST.
The top eight seeds advance to the tournament’s quarterfinal stage, which begins February 5, followed by the semifinal round on February 6. The title match is slated for February 7.
This marks the 19th edition of Copa Chivas Internacional. The tournament features three groups of five teams. Group B includes Mexico’s U-17 National Team, Boca Juniors, Monterrey, River Plate and Tigres. Group C features FC Dallas, Atlas, Atlético Paranaense, Chivas Guadalajara and Urawa Red Diamonds.
U-18 MNT Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jonathan Klinsmann (Strikers FC; Newport Beach, Calif.), Justin Vom Steeg (Real So Cal; Santa Barbara, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (6): David Burns (San Juan SC; El Dorado Hills, Calif.), Kyle Duncan (New York Red Bulls; Brooklyn, N.Y.), Malcolm Jones (LA Galaxy; Chino Hills, Calif.), DJ Mason (Capital Area RailHawks Academy – CASL; Morrisville, N.C.); Pablo Pelaez (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire; Bolingbrook, Ill.)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Michael Boakye (Oakwood SC; Glastonbury, Conn.), James Murphy (Players Development Academy; Scotch Plains, N.J.), Amirgy Pineda (Fullerton SC; Santa Ana, Calif.), Emmanuel Sabbi (Chicago Magic PSG; Libertyville, Ill.), Evan Waldrep (Creighton; Peoria, Ariz.), Eryk Williamson (D.C. United; Alexandria, Va.), Sean Wilson (Philadelphia Union; West Chester, Pa.), Jackson Yueill (Minnesota Thunder; Bloomington, Minn.)
FORWARDS (4): Sebastian Elney (Philadelphia Union; Boca Raton, Fla.), Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake AZ; Paradise Valley, Ariz.), Victor Mansaray (Seattle Sounders FC; Des Moines, Wash.), Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake; Casa Grande, Ariz.)
