March 30, 2010
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State's Jose Altamirano (San Diego/Southwest HS) assisted on the game-winning goal to lift the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team to 1-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps Monday at the Dallas Cup XXXI.
Altamirano, who was named to the U.S. U-20 team on March 15, sent in a cross from the right side that was headed in by Moises Orozco in the first minute of play. Altamirano played all 90 minutes for head coach Thomas Rongen as U.S. held on despite playing most of the game with 10 men because of a 40th minute red card.
Ironically, Altamirano received praise for his defensive play in the game by Robert Ziegler of Top Drawer Soccer. Ziegler wrote, "One of the players who really stood out in that massive defensive effort was San Diego State forward Jose Altamirano. Known from his U15 BNT and Del Mar Sharks club days as an attacking player with flair, Altamirano was very blue collar in the (second) half, working hard in his own end to help limit the Vancouver offensive effort. He said better finishing from his team could have brought some relief to the situation, but noted that he has learned about defensive responsibility from his coach at San Diego State, Lev Kirshner."
Altamirano went onto say in the article, "Everyone played good, but we should have finished our chances. If we'd finished better we would have done less running. My coach in college has helped me a lot to know it's not just attacking but getting back in defending also. You have to work as a team, especially when you're a man down. I wanted to work for my team and that's why I was dropping back."
The victory came just one day after the U.S. dropped a 1-0 decision to Mexico, thanks in part to another first half red card that had the home team playing a man down for the majority of the game.
The U.S. U-20 Men's National Team will be back in action Wednesday (March 31) against Eintracht Frankfurt beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.