Trusty, Jones showed well on big stage
Pair helped U.S. reach Under-20 World Cup quarters
In the Earnie Stewart era of the Philadelphia Union, the club has been unabashed in its aim of churning out prospects for the U.S. national team’s various age groups.
Seeing a pair of players in Auston Trusty and Derrick Jones not just make the U.S. squad for the Under-20 World Cup but contribute meaningfully is another milepost on that pathway.
“I know Derrick turned a lot of heads both in our country and abroad,” manager Jim Curtin said. “Anytime you’re on a big stage like that, it’s important to show well, and I think they represented the Philadelphia Union in a very positive manner.
“It’s great for Auston to get the experience of scoring a goal in that competition, that feeling. So really happy with what both of them were able to accomplish.”
Jones played the larger role in a run to the quarterfinals of the tournament, which culminates this weekend in South Korea. He was tabbed as a reserve by coach Tab Ramos, but a torn ACL for starting midfielder and Arsenal product Gedion Zelalem thrust Jones into the fray.
Jones responded with 54 solid minutes in the opening 3-3 draw with Ecuador and 90-minute outings against Senegal (a 1-0 win) and Saudi Arabia (1-1 draw). A second yellow card of the competition against the Saudis excluded Jones from the 6-0 Round of 16 thumping of New Zealand, but he returned to log 120 minutes of the 2-1 quarterfinal extratime ouster at the hands of Venezuela.
“Derrick had to step into the game, our first game, and make a big impact, which he did, so I’m very happy for him,” Trusty said. “We didn’t have another No. 6, so Derrick played the rest of the matches and he did phenomenal, and I’m very happy for him.”
“He’s been great in any situation he’s been put on the field for us, whether it was a starter or closing out games,” Curtin said. “Derrick has grown and taken big steps now this year in his development. Obviously going to an international competition and impacting those games is special.”
Trusty was a late injury replacement, low on the pecking order in central defense, an area of depth for this clutch of prospects. (Trusty, just 18, is on the young side for the group, too.) But the Media native and former Penncrest student still played a role, entering in the 76th minute and scoring the fifth goal in the New Zealand humbling. He was also a late sub in extra time against Venezuela.
Although playing time was limited, the goal was an obvious highlight.
“I used to be a striker back in the day,” Trusty said with a laugh. “But it was definitely a good opportunity to score and I took advantage of it.”
Though their statures in the national-team picture have grown in recent years, both players arrived at the tournament from divergent perspectives. Jones was a late addition, beating the deadline for citizenship paperwork to change international affiliation from the country of his birth, Ghana, by days. Trusty is the more experienced of the duo, having joined this cohort at the Under-17 World Cup in Chile in 2015. The U.S. didn’t escape that group, managing just one draw in three games.
The unique circumstances heightened each player’s appreciation of the journey — Jones for the anticipation of the switch; Trusty for a second chance to internalize the experience.
“It felt good finally,” Jones said. “I waited so long to get cleared, and I got the opportunity to go play, and that felt great. … We went to the quarterfinals, played a great team, went to extra time. I don’t regret anything. I’m just happy I was there.”
“I think I took a lot more out of it being there the second time, because the first time, you’re kind of all excited and it gets you a little more focused on doing the right things and everything like that,” Trusty said. “But as you get older and become a professional, you can kind of be more able to take a lot out of it in and enjoy the experience more while performing at the same time.”
After competing alongside established pros, Jones and Trusty are eager to gain playing time at home. They arrive at an opportune moment, next Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup tie with Harrisburg City presenting an opportunity for Curtin to deploy several reserves.
Jones started the first five games of the season but has played sparingly since, occupying the same position as Alejandro Bedoya. With Bedoya away with the U.S. for World Cup qualifiers — and potentially the Gold Cup in July — minutes could open up.
“It’s the coach’s decision, but any minutes I play, I’m going to work hard,” Jones said. “Even if I play a minute, I’m going to go out there and play hard.”
Trusty awaits his firstteam debut since signing late last summer. He’s played extensively with Bethlehem Steel and is again hindered by the Union’s center back depth, but he remains hopeful.
“If I step on the field, I’m going to make the best impact I possibly can and do the best job as possible,” Trusty said. “If I get the opportunity that may be the only opportunity I ever have and every opportunity I get, I have to take advantage of it.”
••• Oguchi Onyewu was on the sidelines of training Thursday with a wicked shiner from a head-to-head collision in last Saturday’s 2-1 loss to New York City FC. He left that game despite passing on-field concussion protocols due to the eye swelling shut. He also chipped a tooth.
Curtin classified Thursday’s diminished workload as precautionary as Onyewu still has some headaches, though he wasn’t diagnosed with a concussion at any point.
Warren Creavalle has a grade 1 hamstring strain that forced him out in the 70th minute against NYC, and Curtin reckons he’s “a couple more days” from returning. Creavalle is more likely to feature when the Union resume MLS play June 18 against New York Red Bulls.
Fabian Herbers (adductor strain) received an injection in his leg and is a week away from training again. Brian Carroll (back) is rounding back to form with a limited workload, while Chris Pontius and CJ Sapong, both on the provisional Gold Cup roster, were given rest days.
••• The Union had a training guest: Lehigh Valley native Danny Barbir, who was released by English club West Bromwich Albion.
Barbir, a 6-foot-4 defender and U.S. Under-17 international, has trained with the Union before. At the moment, the arrangement is merely a favor to help the 19-year-old stay in shape.
“Good young player, but at the same time, at this time, it’s just strictly to train and keep fitness,” Curtin offered. “The roster is for the most part full, especially at the center back spot.”