Homegrown Team 1, Tigres U-20s 1 | 2018 MLS Homegrown Game Match Recap

Alicia Rodriguez

The 2018 MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer featured flashes of brilliance from young players on both teams, as the Homegrown Team settled for a 1-1 draw against Tigres UANL's Under-20 squad on Tuesday at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Marietta, Ga.

The annual showcase of top young talent around MLS, the Homegrown Game has pitted the MLS Homegrown team against a Liga MX club's youth squad the last four years. This time around, the reigning Liga MX U-20 champions, Tigres, were the opponent.

Starting Homegrown goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski was pressed into action early, making two vital saves in the opening 10 minutes.

In the 19th minute, Anthony Fontana had a chance in the box off a feed from Jesus Ferreira, but a spectacular save from Tigres GK Marcos Barbosa kept the Homegrown Team off the board.

But the Homegrowns found the net in first-half stoppage time, with Liam Fraser in the right place at the right time to poke the shot in the goal.

Shortly after the restart, Homegrown defender Mark McKenzie made a vital block near his team's goal to prevent a Tigres shot.

It appeared Ferreira doubled the Homegrowns' lead, but his goal was called back after Video Review, as the tally was chalked off for a goalkeeper infraction at the other end by Sean Melvin. Tigres scored on the subsequent indirect free kick, from Adrian Garza, in the 77th minute.

A minute later, Tigres went down to 10 men, as Jorge Cruz picked up his second yellow card of the match, but the Homegrown Team could not make them pay for it.

Goals

45+2' – HG – Liam Fraser | WATCH
77' – TIG – Adrian Garza | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: While it rained hard at times during the match, the game featured good plays from both sides on both sides of the ball. Once again, the Homegrown Team were unable to notch a victory, although they played quite well on the night.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: The turning point in the game was the Video Review, which led to Ferreira's goal being taken off the board and Tigres scoring their tally off the subsequent indirect free kick.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Had Ferreira's goal stood he probably would have gotten the nod, but official MVP of the match Andrew Carleton assisted Fraser's goal in 45 minutes as captain. Not bad for the hometown guy.