Men’s Soccer: Ibarra earns start

Former UC Irvine All-American Miguel Ibarra made his first start for the U.S. men’s national team in its 2-0 victory over Panama in a friendly on Sunday at the Stub Hub Center.

Ibarra, a midfielder who made his debut with the national team in a 1-1 tie with Honduras on Oct. 14 in Florida, played 79 minutes Sunday and earned praise from Team USA Coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

“Every time he comes in, he’s a regular already, and he proved that in every training session,” Klinsmann said during the post-match news conference. “He has an endless engine. He gives everything. He’s very smart tactically, he helped out defensively and he always has an eye for the forwards and he himself, as he shows us with his club, he can finish things as well. I think he has done a very, very good job, and he’s totally respected and part of this group now.”

Ibarra, the Big West Co-Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2011, is the reigning MVP of the North American Soccer League as a member of the Minnesota United, said he was happy with his performance against Panama.

“Everything came out just how I wanted it to,” said Ibarra, who had nine goals and eight assists to lead the Anteaters to the Big West regular-season and conference championship in 2011.

Team USA veteran Clint Dempsey, who scored one of the American’s two first-half goals, also praised Ibarra’s play.

“I think he showed his engine on the field and breaking up plays and putting [opponents] under pressure and helping create chances for us,” Dempsey said.

The next match for Team USA is March 25 against host Denmark.

— From staff reports