The MLS Homegrown team couldn’t break its winless streak in the annual MLS Homegrown Game.
At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta, Ga., where MLS side Atlanta United trains, the Homegrown players of MLS managed to strike first, but eventually were undone by a goalkeeper error, which was pointed out by Video Assistant Referee review.
The Homegrown side is winless in five Homegrown Games after playing to a 1-1 draw with the Tigres U20 side Tuesday night.
After a largely uneventful first half, Toronto FC midfielder Liam Fraser opened the scoring off a set piece for the Homegrown side. Tigres let a free kick bounce into the penalty area, and Fraser pounced on the unclaimed ball and gave the MLS youngsters a lead in the first minute of first half stoppage time.
“I’m happy for it, but overall disappointed that we couldn’t get the result,” Fraser said. “It was something that we were really edging for and something we really wanted. It was a great experience to get out there with an unbelievable group of lads and I think we all did a part today in showing what the future holds in MLS.”
For a moment in the second half, it looked like the Homegrown side had done enough to score its first victory in an MLS Homegrown Game. FC Dallas forward Jesús Ferreira worked his way into the penalty area and fired an amazing shot inside the far post to give the Homegrown team a 2-0 lead in the 69th minute.
The goal celebration was short-lived.
Match referee Victor Rivas decided to have a second look at the sequence that led to the goal. After video review, he determined Homegrown goalkeeper Sean Melvin picked the ball up again after dropping it once in the penalty area.
Ferreira’s goal was disallowed, a goalkeeper infraction was called and Tigres U20 was awarded an indirect free kick from just inside the top of the penalty area. Tigres striker Adrián Garza Del Toro buried the free kick and leveled the match in the 77th minute.
“I think it was a bit more mental than anything,” Fraser said about the team’s reaction to the review. “Some of the lads were… you could tell it definitely drained them a bit, but I think the mentality was strong in the group and they were able to come back and create some great chances and we were just unfortunate not to get one back in the end.”
Homegrown coach Tony Annan said all he was told was that Melvin put the ball on the ground on purpose in the attacking phase of play.
“VAR… sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t,” Annan said.
Annan had high praise for his players after the match. New USMNT general manager Earnie Stewart was in attendance for the match.
“To produce players that are world-class, as we want to do, they’ve got to be given the opportunity,” Annan said. “It’s as simple as that. That’s a worldwide statement. You have to give them opportunities to prove themselves. I think some of these guys are definitely on that path and should be given the chance, when they’re ready.
“Obviously there’s a process, you don’t have to rush them, but given the opportunities we have in this country to take our young players and push them on, I think we should take those opportunities in the next four to eight years and we should push players on and challenge players to get better and maybe more comfortable.
“For those guys watching tonight, I would hope they saw some very good technical players who can tactically take over a game. I think a lot of players on the pitch tonight did themselves a lot of favors.”