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Berhalter to hand Ajax's Dest start vs. Mexico

Sergino Dest will start.

That was the biggest news coming out of Thursday afternoon's press conference with United States men's coach Gregg Berhalter in advance of the team's Friday night match against Mexico at MetLife Stadium.

"He's doing great in camp," the manager said of the 18-year-old Ajax defender. "He's going to start the game tomorrow. It's a great opportunity for us ... to give him an opportunity with the first team. That's what's nice about this story."

Dest, who was born and raised in the Netherlands but whose father is a U.S. citizen, has enjoyed a strong start to the season in the Eredivisie with the Ajax senior team after coming up through their youth ranks.