Sporting Kansas City rookie midfielder Mikey Lopez made his fourth appearance in five games for the United States Under-20 Men's National Team as they took on Mexico in the final of the 2013 CONCACAF U-20 Championship on Sunday in Puebla, Mexico. Lopez started and the played the full 120 minutes for Tab Ramos' squad as the U.S. fell to the hosts 3-1 in extra time and were crowned regional runners-up after winning their previous four matches.
The U.S. -- one of four teams to secure a berth in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup this summer in Turkey -- advanced to the finals of the CONCACAF U-20 qualifying tournament for the fourth time in team history, but were beaten in extra time on a game-winning goal from Julio Gomez, who led Mexico to the FIFA U-17 World Cup crown two years ago as the tournament's top scorer.
Lopez, a Generation adidas signee taken in the first round of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of North Carolina, returns to Kansas City tomorrow to re-join his Sporting KC teammates. Visit USSoccer.com and follow @USSoccer_YNT on Twitter for postgame reaction and coverage from Sunday's championship.
