LA Galaxy Homegrown forward Jose Villarreal started and went a full 120 minutes, but the U.S. U-20's fell 3-1 to Mexico in the final of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship.
Mexico's Jesus Corona and U.S.' Benji Joya traded goals in the first ten minutes of the match, but in extra time, Mexico pulled away. Julio Gomez scored the winner off a bicycle kick off a corner in the 99th minute before Jorge Espericueta nodded home the third and final goal off a penalty kick in the 113th minute after Shane O'Neill was sent off for a foul in the box. Villarreal wasn't the player with Galaxy affiliations to play as Galaxy Academy product Javan Torre started in central defense while former Academy starlet Mario Rodriguez started up top.
Following the match, Villarreal was named to the tournament's Best XI along with his U.S. teammates Wil Trapp and Luis Gil. The Galaxy Homegrown's weren't the only players with local ties as Southern California-native -- and FC Dallas Homegrown player -- Richard Sanchez was awarded the golden gloves of the tournament for backstopping Mexico to the title.
The draw for the U-20 World Cup takes place on March 25 in Istanbul, Turkey.
