Video Journals Share Experience
After five previous trips to Europe, US Club Soccer announced that members of the 2015 id2 National Selection International Tour would travel to Argentina, Feb. 28-March 10. This marks the first trip to South America in id2 history.
The id2 National Selection International Tour is the final programming element of the id2 Program cycle targeting boys born in 2001, which concludes with its fourth training camp in mid-December in Casa Grande, AZ.
Video Journal #1: Meet the traveling team, domestic camp in Houston, first days in Argentina
Video Journal #2: Highlights the first two matches of the tour, explores La Boca Juniors facilities and shows the passion of a Copa Libertadores game between River Plate and Tigres UANL.
While the first video journal depicted the initial days of the international tour, the second video journal picks up on March 3. It was game day for the id2 National Selection team, as the North Americans took on Vélez Sarsfield Infantiles Categoría 2001 at Villa Olímpica after touring the facilities of Boca Juniors that morning.
The “La Bombonera” tour was highlighted by watching the Boca Juniors first team train. That afternoon, the id2 National Selection team turned its attention to Vélez Sarsfield.
An Eduardo Blancas (Napa Valley FC; Napa, CA) goal in the 27th minute opened up the scoreboard and gave the id2 National Selection a brief lead. Three goals were then scored in the opening three minutes of the second half, with Vélez Sarsfield scoring in the 36th and 38th minutes and Luis Arriaga (Santa Rosa United; Santa Rosa, CA.) finding the back of the net in the 37th.
After Sarsfield scored again in the 50th minute, Ed Berumen (Modesto Ajax United; Salida, CA) provided the id2 National Selection’s third and equalizing goal of the exciting game off an assist from Bryang Kayo (Bethesda SC; Montgomery Village, MD).
Fresh off the 3-3 draw, both teams enjoyed a post-game meal together in a good showing of inter-continental camaraderie.
Two days later, on March 5, the id2 National Selection returned to the pitch to play a morning match against Boca Juniors Infantiles Categoría 2001 at La Candela. The host club came out on top, 3-1, with Togo Nakamura (LA Galaxy Academy; Torrance, CA) scoring the lone goal for the id2 team.
Afterward, head coach and id2 Boys Program Director Gerry McKeown called the host club “world-renowned and deserving of the respect they have.”
Kevin Payne, US Club Soccer’s CEO, expressed similar sentiments. “They’re (id2 National Selection) dealing with a level of pressure in games that they’re not accustomed to seeing at home,” Payne said. “The organization defensively of both Velez and Boca have been outstanding. They’ve made it very difficult for us to play, and our kids are learning how to adapt to it. So far, it’s been a great experience from a development standpoint.”
After the match, the group visited La Boca and then watched an evening Copa Libertadores game between River Plate and Tigres at El Monumental, which included an incredible goal that erupted the passionate Argentine crowd.
While that’s where the second video journal comes to a close, the id2 National Selection team went on to defeat Argentinos Juniors Infantiles Categoría 2001 at the Argentinos Juniors Training Center two days later.
Lorenzo Lopez (Crossfire Premier SC; Oregon City, OR) led the way with two first half goals. Luis Arriaga (Santa Rosa United; Santa Rosa, CA) assisted on the first goal and then slotted a shot to the far post for the final 3-1 advantage.
Two days later, which was this morning, the id2 National Selection took on San Lorenzo de Almagro Infantiles Categoría 2001 at La Ciudad Deportiva. Arriaga notched his third goal of the international tour in the 23rd minute in a 1-1 result. With the tie, the id2 National Selection finished the trip with a record of 1-1-2.
The team, an elite mix of some of the country’s best 18 players with 2001 targeted birth years, returns to American soil on March 11.
One more video journal will be released in the coming days that chronicles the closing days of the international tour.
