ASN: Derrick Jones Standing Tall for US U-20s in South Korea

The 20-year-old Ghana native moved to the Philadelphia space in 2011, and each the Union and U.S. U-20 coach Tab Ramos are glad to have the six-foot-four midfielder enjoying for his or her sides. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
Might 26, 2017
12:00 PM

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THE UNITED STATES and Ghana have developed fairly a soccer rivalry lately, having met in three consecutive World Cups and one U-20 World Cup since 2006. It wasn’t till the now-famous gamewinner from John Brooks in 2014 when the US lastly bought previous its African nemesis.

The People appear like they’ve scored one other win over Ghana: Midfielder Derrick Jones was born in Bantama, Ghana, however immigrated to the U.S. in 2011 and is now representing the Stars and Stripes within the U-20 World Cup in South Korea. He is a high-ceiling participant with nice bodily instruments and a fearless strategy to the sport. 

Jones, now 20, has steadily progressed as a participant in the US, transferring from Junior Lone Star FC of the fourth-tier NPSL to the Philadelphia Union academy. He was the first-ever signing for the Union’s USL workforce, the Bethlehem Metal, after which turned the primary participant in workforce historical past to maneuver from the Academy to the primary workforce in 2017.

Even together with his success for the Philadelphia Union this 12 months, Jones has stepped into the worldwide highlight on the 2017 U-20 World Cup in South Korea and has been top-of-the-line surprises for the People. On Monday he got here into the sport towards Ecuador within the thirty fourth minute for an injured Gedion Zealem. Two minutes later he sprung a counter assault that led to the workforce’s first purpose. Ultimately, he was a dominating pressure in a 3-3 draw.

On Thursday Jones began and went the space because the U.S. workforce defeated Senegal 1-0 whereas holding its opponent to solely two weak pictures on purpose. Jones has earned the accolades of his teammates and coaches.

“He did very well in the first game,” Tab Ramos mentioned of Jones. “He got thrown into a very difficult position. It’s not easy to go into the center of the field in the middle of a game because of the speed of the game. Actually he helped us. Not only did he fit in but he made us better. We’re very happy with that.”

Luca de la Torre agrees with Ramos. De La Torre, a Fulham midfielder, is a veteran of U.S. youth groups and has additionally made massive performs thus far on the World Cup—together with a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer towards Ecuador and an help on Josh Sargent’s eventual winner towards Senegal.

“He’s a big guy but he’s also very technical,” de la Torre mentioned. “I would say he’s a very well-rounded player. He can win the ball. He can keep the ball. He can pass forward. He gave us a bit of stability when he came in. It’s not an easy thing to get thrown into a holding midfield position straight off the bench and do as well as he did. We’re really happy for him.”

Jones almost missed out on the U-20 World Cup. He solely turned a U.S. citizen final 12 months however he additionally wanted to acquire a waiver from FIFA for its residency necessities. Such waivers are regularly given when a participant obtains citizenship through a naturalization course of for non-soccer causes, amongst many elements.

After Jones performed in a U-20 camp final November, Ramos wished to incorporate him into his workforce for February’s World Cup qualifying event however FIFA didn’t grant Jones his waiver in time. Jones as an alternative was glued to his tv watching the workforce win CONCACAF. Ultimately his waiver was granted two weeks earlier than the World Cup.

And whereas Jones is now eligible to play on both facet of the United States-Ghana soccer rivalry, it was not a tough determination for him.

“It was tough watching qualifying and not being able to play but I watched every game,” Jones informed American Soccer Now from South Korea. “They won and they all worked hard for the championship. I was happy for them. To be honest. I didn’t really know if FIFA was going to clear me in time. I went to a couple of camps with the guys and I was looking forward to it—if everything went through. I am very happy I got to be an American citizen and then play with these guys in a World Cup. It’s something that I prayed for and now I am doing it. I am very happy.”

“Once I started the process, I knew I wanted to play for the United States,” Jones added on his newly acquired twin nationality. “I knew it as soon as I came here. It wasn’t a hard decision for me.”

In South Korea, Jones has proven himself to be each skillful and uncooked. The large check following this event might be to proceed to develop with the Philadelphia Union.

To date this season, Jones has made eight appearances (together with 5 begins) with an enhancing Union workforce that has now gained 4 in a row. 

“He’s a great talent that with his physical presence and technical ability could really turn some heads at the U-20 World Cup,” mentioned U.S. nationwide workforce and Union midfielder Alejandro Bedoya. “I’ve all the time been arduous on him as a result of after seeing him for the primary time I noticed a lot potential. He has the flexibility to cowl a lot floor and is fearless but in addition has the flexibility to play balls ahead beneath stress and in between the strains that open up the sport and result in possibilities for the workforce.

“As you noticed within the first recreation, he was capable of change the sport by being everywhere in the midfield and serving to to acquire and preserve possession. I want him the most effective of luck and know he is bought a vibrant future.”

Union coach Jim Curtin agrees with Bedoya that Jones has an amazing upside.

“Derrick is a fearless player with the ability to rise to any occasion,” Curtin said. “Whether it is stepping onto the field for his MLS debut on the road in Vancouver, dealing with [Sebastian] Giovinco the following week, or coming off the bench in the 30th minute of a U-20 World Cup, he approaches the game the same way. He gives you an incredible ball-winner, with a great range of passing, and has very soft feet to get out of tight spots for a guy who is six-foot-four.”

Earlier than Jones returns to Philadelphia to renew his skilled profession, the focus will proceed to develop on his U-20 workforce on the World Cup. On Sunday it can face Saudi Arabia (5am ET; FS1, Telemundo) and a win will give the Yanks a Group F title and a good draw within the Spherical of 16 knockout stage.

After the 2015 workforce earned accolades when it superior to the quarterfinals, this workforce is aiming to go even additional—and Jones is bullish on its possibilities.

“I trust my teammates a lot,” Jones mentioned. “I know we are going to do very well in this tournament. Everybody is working hard every day. We have confidence we are going to win. We are going to keep going.”