George Josten scored from 20 yards out as adiPure beat Trofeo 1-0 in the second game of the adidas MLS Player Combine, which got underway Saturday morning at Lockhart Stadium.
In the 51st minute, Josten (Gonzaga University) took a great feed from Shea Salinas (Furman University) and powered the ball just under the crossbar and past goalkeeper Josh Lambo (U.S. U-17 national team).
It was the only goal of the day as PowerServe and adiTunit played to a scoreless tie in the first game.
URUGUAYAN MAKES DEBUT: In Saturday's first game, Jonathan Sabbatini of Paisandu, Uruguay played for adidas adiTunit in his first game on U.S. soil as he tries to win a contract with an MLS team. Although Sabbatini was one of the more impressive players in the scoreless game, he said he expects to do better the rest of the combine.
"It took me some time to adjust because I don't know my teammates very well," said Sabbatini, speaking in Spanish. "I actually played better in the first half because I had more opportunities with the ball. There was a lot of congestion in the middle, so we tried to find some open spaces on the outside. Hopefully, tomorrow will be more wide open."
One of three South Americans invited to participate in this year's combine (along with Argentinians Maximiliano Damiano and Lucas Fernandez), Sabbatini said he watches MLS games on television when he is in Uruguay.
"It's a good league," said Sabbatini, 19. "The players are fast. In Uruguay, the games are more physical. Players take a beating. But in the MLS, there is a lot of quality. The players are skilled, especially with all the new guys arriving from different parts of the world."
Sabbatini was told of the opportunity to play in the MLS Combine three months ago.
"I didn't think twice about it," he said. "I loved the idea. I arrived on Tuesday and have been able to take a bit of a tour of Fort Lauderdale. It's a peaceful city, lots of beautiful girls."
Sabbatini's uncle, Marcelo Perfecto, was a midfielder on the Uruguayan national team.
"He has had a very positive influence on me," Sabbatini said. "He has helped open doors for me in soccer. It would be a very proud moment for me if I could play for the national team like my uncle."
Until then, he is hoping to play in the MLS and beyond.
"I plan on being here," he said. "In the future, my dream would be to play in Europe. For the type of game I play, I think Spain would be ideal. We will see what happens."
NYARKO ABSENT: Forward Patrick Nyarko of Virginia Tech was not at the combine on Saturday but is expected on Sunday. He is en route from St. Louis, where he was one of three finalists for the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy.
The award, the most prestigious in college soccer, was given to University of Connecticut forward O'Brian White. The runner-up was Nyarko, and the other finalist was Notre Dame senior Joseph Lapira, who won the award in 2007.
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