CHICAGO, Ill. (May 20, 2013) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Monday that midfielder Victor Pineda has been selected by U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach Tab Ramos for the 22-man roster to participate in the 2013 Toulon Tournament from May 28 – June 8 in Toulon, France.
The 41st edition of the Toulon Tournament features 10 countries placed in two five-team groups. The USA is in Group A with Colombia, Congo DR, South Korea and host France. Group B includes Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria and Portugal.
The U.S. opens the tournament against France on Tuesday, May 28, at Stade Léo-Lagrange in Toulon. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. local (12:30 p.m. CT). The group stage features four games, after which the group winners face each other in the championship match and the group runners-up meet in the third-place game. Both matches take place on Saturday, June 8.
The United States are currently preparing for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey. The United States, drawn into Group A, face Spain in Istanbul on June 21, France in Istanbul on June 24 and Ghana in Kayseri on June 27.
Pineda, the first Homegrown player in Fire history, scored three goals and added one assist in six appearances for the U-20s in 2012. The Bolingbrook, Ill. native, missed the 2013 CONCACAF U-20 Championship while rehabilitating from meniscus repair surgery that he underwent Nov. 15, 2012. Pineda recently participated in a seven-day training camp at the U.S. Soccer Federation National Training Center located in Carson, Calif. from April 22-29.
Utilized as a forward for the U-20s, Pineda will depart for France on May 25 and will miss the Fire’s against Real Salt Lake that night at Rio Tinto Stadium at 8:00 p.m. CT (My50/La Ley 107.9), the June 2 match against D.C. United at Toyota Park at 4:00 p.m. CT (UniMas/My50/La Ley 107.9) and the June 8 match against the Portland Timbers at Toyota Park at 7:30 p.m. CT (My50/La Ley 107.9). Additionally, Pineda will miss the Fire’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup third round match on May 28 or 29 while on international duty.
U.S. U-20 Toulon Tournament Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Cody Cropper (Southampton FC; Maple Grove, Minn.), Kendall McIntosh (Santa Clara; Santa Rosa, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (7): Eric Miller (Creighton; Woodbury, Minn.), Juan Pablo Ocegueda (C.D. Guadalajara; Riverside, Calif.), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids; Boulder, Colo.), Jeffrey Payeras (C.S.D. Municipal; Hawthorne, Calif.), Caleb Stanko (SC Freiburg; Holly, Mich.), Oscar Sorto (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Javan Torre (UCLA; Santa Monica, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; Plano, Texas), Marlon Hairston (Louisville; Jackson, Miss.), Benji Joya (Santos Laguna; San Jose, Calif.), Mikey Lopez (Sporting Kansas City; Mission, Texas), Collin Martin (Wake Forest; Chevy Chase, Md.), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids; Brighton, Colo.), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew; Gahanna, Ohio)
FORWARDS (6): Daniel Cuevas (Santos Laguna; Sacramento, Calif.), Daniel Garcia (North Carolina; Dallas, Texas), Alonso Hernandez (C.F. Monterrey; El Paso, Texas), Alfred Koroma (Akron; Southlake, Texas), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders Academy; Mercer Island, Wash.), Victor Pineda (Chicago Fire; Bolingbrook, Ill.)
