Rapids rising stars Dillon Serna and Shane O’Neill are seeing significant action for the USA’s U-23s in the Toulon Tournament and will now have one more chance to shine in the prestigious international event.
The U-23s got some big help from France’s U-21s, allowing the Americans to slide into a second place finish in the group stage on goal differential.
The USA split its group play matches, 2-2, notching victories over the Netherlands (3-1) and Qatar (1-0). They fell to France (3-1) and Costa Rica (2-1), and ended group play with four points a 6:6 goal differential.
Serna logged every minute of the team’s first three matches (France, the Netherlands and Costa Rica) and O’Neill played in all four matches, playing full minutes against the Netherlands and Costa Rica while coming off the bench for France and Qatar.
Neither Serna nor O’Neill tallied a goal or assist, but O’Neill was proudly donning the captain’s armband during the tournament, according to coloradorapids.com.
The USA was the first team to complete group play and entered Thursday in a points tie with the Netherlands, putting them in the running for a consolation (3rd place) game appearance. Until that point, France had swept the group stage and already earned the championship matchup against Group B’s winner, Mexico.
America trailed the Netherlands in goal differential, needing the French squad to defeat the Dutch by at least four goals in order for the USA to secure the second seed in the group. Qatar had previously helped the USA with a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica earlier Thursday.
France led its match with the Netherlands 1-0 at half and turned up the intensity in the second 40 minutes, notching three goals, allowing none for a 4-0 finish – the exact score the USA needed to advance.
The U-23s will wait until Friday when their 3rd place opponent will be decided. Mexico currently leads Group B by a 7-5 points margin over Morocco. Mexico is currently at 5:2 on goals; Morocco is 6:3. The two will square off in the early match Friday night.
The 3rd place match is set for Sunday, June 7.