EVENING STARS
Young U.S. ties Cup-bound France
Julian Green scored in the 44th minute and a young United States team held on against tremendous pressure to tie World Cup-bound France, 1-1, Saturday night at Lyon.
Kylian Mbappe tied the score in the 78th minute for Les Bleus, who outshot the Americans, 19-2. The French had been 3-0 against the U.S. in prior meetings, outscoring the Americans 10-0, but 23-year-old Zack Steffen made seven saves in his third international appearance, a standout performance that could help him in the competition to succeed Tim Howard as the team’s No. 1 goalkeeper.
The U.S. started just one player with 10 previous international appearances and all were 25 or younger. At 22 years, 183 days, the lineup’s average age was the second-youngest since records began in 1990.
Green scored against Belgium in extra time in the second round of the 2014 World Cup but largely disappeared over the next few years and the 23-year-old midfielder spent last season with second-tier Greuther Fuerth in Germany.
Shaq Moore exchanged passes with Bobby Wood, and the 21-year-old Moore made a run down the right flank and crossed past Benjamin Mendy. Djibril Sidibe’s left-footed clearance attempt did not go far, and Green ran onto the bouncing ball, spun his right leg and from 9 yards sent the ball between Sidibe’s legs, beating goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to the near post with a one-hopper.