CONCACAF U17s: US-Based Internationals GK/DEF

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The CONCACAF U17 Championships is underway! While many will be focusing on the United States Youth National Team there are a large number of players from the United States who will be featuring for other national teams from across Central and Latin America and the Carribbean. Here are some of the top U.S.-based goalkeepers and defenders that have impressed thus far for their national teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcjoIfeRd0g","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcjoIfeRd0g </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Diego Pena","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"100","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"The Hun of Princeton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Match Fit Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Pena is the starting goalkeeper for the Dominican Republic and one of the top goalkeepers in New Jersey with his high school side the Hun School of Princeton. At club level, he plays for Match Fit Academy in the ECNL. He possesses excellent vision and is a superb shot stopper. At 6'0u0022, he can physically control action inside of the box. But he also makes very sound decisions and is able to dictate the pace of the match deftly with subtle throws or passes to the outside. As part of CONCACAF's new format the Dominican Republic will start play in the knockout stage which means they will need a very organized goalkeeper between the posts. Pena should be up to the challenge.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["59848"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Aguilar is currently the back-up for El Salvador, but due to the number of games in a short period of time should get minutes (the Group Stage is essentially three games in four days). The D.C. United goalkeeper is a 2008 that has featured prominently for the side during MLS Next competition this season. He is very athletic and makes excellent reads on shots and crosses from distance. He is also unafraid of making the a close diving stop when going one-on-one versus an attacker.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["59805"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Much like with Aguilar, Grant is most likely going to be a spot starter with Jamaica but will get minutes especially if the Reggae Boyz make a deep run in the competition. Grant is an excellent athlete and can make difficult saves look ordinary especially from distance. He can make an excellent throw from inside of the box and always seems to have a good eye for sparking the counter-attack.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Jordan Mangatal","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"South Florida Football Academy MLS Next","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Mangatal was a key cog for Jamaica in their 4-2 win over Cuba to start Group G. At both left-back and in the midfield, he used his speed and pace to help open up the Cuban defense and also give his teammates some respite on the defensive side. He makes very, smart disciplined runs and he always seems to know when the perfect time is to turn on the burners. He is also very comfortable with making passes on the outside of both feet to shift the field of play. This gave Cuba some major troubles and will be an asset as the tournament continues.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["8086"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Villalobos led the Salvadorean defense to a strong 3-1 win over Haiti in their first match in Group H. Under intense pressure during the entire match, Villalobos and their backline held firm making several key stops to preserve the three points. He is a very smart, technical player that makes few errors and always seems ready to support his teammates. He is comfortable with the ball at his feet and can hit precise passes to create the counter-attack.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["59852"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Duncan faced significant pressure from the United States attack on Monday night and largely held his own, keeping the score to just 3-1. He was very successful at moving attackers to the outside and taking difficult crosses from distance, which helped limit the U.S.' ability to create chances in the box. He was also able to make some nice runs on the counter-attack towards the end of the first half, giving the beleaguered Soca Warrior defense a breather. With Charlotte FC he had a solid first season last year in MLS Next and originally comes from South Carolina Surf, where he helped the side win the 2021 ECNL National Championship.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ebcc8c09ddf"} /-->