Kayden Pierre makes third appearance for U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team in Revelations Cup

Sporting Kansas City defender Kayden Pierre came off the bench late in the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team's final Revelations Cup match on Tuesday against Mexico.  

The Sporting KC Academy product came on in a 2-1 defeat in the U.S. U-20’s third and final match of the Revelations Cup. The competition was the U.S. U-20’s first time playing together since early 2020. 

Mexico jumped out to an early lead in the fifth minute with a shot from the right of the box tucked into the far post.  

The U.S. nearly equalized in the 16th with an ambitious long-range strike that was pushed just wide of the goal by Brian Gutierrez. Mexico’s second shot of the match came in the 20th off a volley from the spot that was disrupted from the get-go and easily handled by U.S. keeper Gabriel Slonina.  

The U.S. quickly responded with a shot on goal of their own. Mexico’s keeper misread the shot and the ball sent in from a tight angle boomed off his face. After receiving treatment on the field, he was able to continue.  

The U.S. had another chance to equalize in the 34th minute after driving the ball to the endline and playing it back towards goal. After a poor clearance by the Mexico backline, a tough volley off-target was all the U.S. could get out of the promising attack.  

After a chippy end to the first half, Mexico would carry the one-goal advantage into halftime.  

Coming out of the half, the U.S. immediately knotted the match up at a goal apiece in the 50th minute on a strike from close range. Cade Cowell forced a turnover in the U.S.’s attacking third and slotted the ball to Diego Luna who clinically played it past the Mexican keeper.  

Mexico looked to regain the lead straight away but was turned aside by a diving Slonina who made the two-handed slap save on the near post. Mexico would capture the lead in the 63rd minute on a sliding effort on a backdoor ball played in front of the face of goal.  

Mexico, unsatisfied with the one-goal advantage continued to attack the U.S. goal. They had a great chance to increase their lead but a poor shot just beyond the spot rolled harmlessly to the U.S. keeper’s hands. Cowell fired another chance on frame but had it saved by Mexico’s goalie on the ensuing U.S. possession.  

Pierre entered the match in the 79th minute as the U.S. continued its search for the leveler.  

Pierre launched one of the U.S.’s best attacks of the night, shaking his man along the left sideline, breaking into the box and smashing a ball across the face of goal. No American runners were able to get on the ball but a corner was won in the process.  

Despite the U.S. throwing almost everything they had at the Mexican defense; it was all for naught as they could not find the equalizer. Mexico took all three points from the clash and remained atop the table of the Revelations Cup.