CARSON CITY, Calif. – Saturday was a special day for a pair of FC Dallas Homegrowns.Jesus Ferreira and Brandon Servania each made their United States debuts on the senior team, while Reggie Cannon also went the full 90 in the team's 1-0 win over Costa Rica at Dignity Health Sports Park.
With an average age of just 23 years, 216 days old, coach Gregg Berhalter fielded the youngest team in USMNT history. In total, seven players made their debuts, as the squad managed to keep Los Ticos quiet and earn the hard-fought victory.
The lone goal of the match came in the 49th minute. Ulysses Llanez confidently slotted home from the penalty spot, after Cannon drew the foul just inside the 18. Cannon, who put forth another solid showing in Berhalter's defense, also kept Costa Rica off the score sheet with an athletic block on his own goal line in the 56th minute.
For Ferreira, who started up top, his day came to a close in the 62nd minute, when he was replaced by Gyasi Zardes, but the forward made the most of his minutes. He came to life on a number of occasions in the first half and nearly set up Paul Arriola with a perfectly-weighted through ball in the 14th minute, but the midfielder failed to convert the chance.
And while Servania did not start, the midfielder made his entrance in the 67th minute, replacing Brenden Aaronson and playing the final 23 minutes of the match. The midfielder, along with Ferreira and Cannon, will now travel down to Chula Vista, California, to meet up with his FC Dallas teammates, as they continue their preseason training camp.
