PUEBLA, Mexico (Feb. 26, 2013) – The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team delivered its finest performance of the 2013 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, overpowering Canada 4-2 in the quarterfinals at Estadio Olímpico Universitario Lobos BUAP.
With the win, the United States earned a berth to the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will take place from June 21-July 13 in Turkey. The USA qualified for the 13th time at this age level.
The U.S. will face Cuba on Friday, March 1 in the semifinals at Estadio Olímpico Universitario Lobos BUAP. The match will be televised on FOX Soccer and Univision Deportes, and fans can follow on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on twitter @ussoccer_ynt.
After falling behind 1-0, the U.S. exploded for three goals in a 17-minute span to close out the first half. Luis Gil opened the scoring, and ussoccer.com Man of the Match Wil Trapp added one just before halftime. U.S. Soccer Development Academy product Jose Villarreal scored a pair of goals to increase his tournament total to three.
“I have to give the players so much credit for today,” said U.S. Under-20 MNT head coach Tab Ramos. “Not only are they playing a very difficult game that has a lot of pressure, but at the same time they found themselves behind. I enjoyed seeing the satisfaction on the players’ faces when they accomplished something big. I’m glad to be a part of today’s result.”
Canada struck first as Dylan Carreiro found space 30 yards from goal and decided to have a go, unloading a wicked shot that whistled into the far right corner past a scrambling Cody Cropper.
The United States responded well and picked up the pace, with Mario Rodriguez and Daniel Cuevas consistently posing threats down the flanks. Just six minutes after going down, the U.S. leveled terms.
Cuevas sparked the play with a nifty solo effort that took him to the byline where he slipped a pass back across the six. Gil took a clever first touch to create space firing a left-footer low to the far post.
The goal sparked both teams. With its confidence growing, the U.S. remained aggressive in the attack. After nearly putting the U.S. ahead in the 34th minute, Villarreal finally broke through with five minutes remaining in the opening stanza. Rodriguez created space down the left flank and looked for an option inside the area. Villarreal sliced to top of six-yard box unnoticed and side-footed the entry pass into the goal from eight yards out.
The U.S. kept its foot on the pedal and added a third goal in first half stoppage time. Gil delivered a corner kick that goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau punched to the top of the area where Trapp lurked for a rebound. He ripped a full volley from 20 yards that deflected off Mauro Eustaquio and caromed past the helpless ‘keeper.
Buoyed by a two-goal lead, the United States came out flying in the second half and snatched a fourth goal in a display of precision and sophistication.
Additional Notes:
- The victory was the USA’s third in three games in the tournament.
- U-20 MNT head coach Tab Ramos chose a starting lineup similar to the USA’s Group A opener against Haiti, using 10 of the 11 starters from that match. The only difference was at left back where Juan Pablo Ocegueda got the call for a second-straight match.
- For a second-straight game, the U.S. went with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Jose Villarreal playing up top.
- Luis Gil nabbed his second goal of the tournament, having opened the USA’s scoring in the 2-1 win against Haiti. He now has four goals at this age level, good for second-most on the squad.
- The U.S. has moved to 5-2-2 all-time against Canada in CONCACAF Youth Tournaments and Championships.
- The USA starting lineup on Monday featured seven players who had played in at least one game for a U.S. Soccer Development Academy team.
- The U.S. played without midfielder Mikey Lopez, who picked up his second yellow card of the tournament against Costa Rica and was consequently suspended for Tuesday’s match.
U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team Match Report
- Match: U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team vs. Canada
- Date: Feb. 26, 2013
- Attendance: –
- Weather: 74 degrees, partly cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA: 3 1 4
CAN: 1 1 2
- CAN – Dylan Carreiro: 23rd minute
- USA – Luis Gil (Daniel Cuevas): 29
- USA – Jose Villarreal (Mario Rodriguez): 40
- USA – Wil Trapp: 45+1
- USA – Jose Villarreal (Benji Joya): 54
- CAN – Samuel Piette: 64
Lineups:
USA: 1-Cody Cropper; 2-Boyd Okwuonu, 4-Caleb Stanko (capt.), 5-Shane O’Neill, 3-Juan Pablo Ocegueda; 8-Benji Joya, 6-Wil Trapp; 9-Mario Rodriguez (19-Brandon Allen, 90+2), 10-Luis Gil (17-Danny Garcia, 77), 20-Daniel Cuevas; 7-Jose Villarreal (16-Dillon Serna, 84)
Substitutions Not Used: 11-Jerome Kiesewetter, 12-Kendall McIntosh, 14-Javan Torre, 18-Eric Miller, 22-Zack Steffen
Not available: 15-Mikey Lopez
Head coach: Tab Ramos
CAN: 18-Maxime Crépeau; 2-Jon Dollery, 3-Marco Lapenna, 4-Doneil Henry (capt.) (15-Manjrekar James, 33), 5-Daniel Stanese, 6-Samuel Piette, 7-Ben Fisk, 9-Caleb Clarke, 12-Dylan Carreiro, 13-Alessandro Riggi (10-Kevin Aleman, 46), 16-Mauro Eustaquio (22-Stefan Vukovic, 76)
Substitutions Not Used: 1-Richard Gomes, 8-Zakaria Messoudi, 11-Michael Petrasso, 17-Anthony Jackson-Hamel, 21-Ben McKendry, 23-Allan Zebie
Head coach: Nick Dasovic
Stats Summary: USA / CAN
- Shots: 17 / 9
- Shots on Goal: 12 / 5
- Saves: 3 / 8
- Corner Kicks: 10 / 3
- Fouls: 12 / 10
- Offside: 1 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
- USA – Jose Villarreal (caution): 58th minute
- CAN – Dylan Carreiro (caution): 12
- CAN – Manjrekar James (sent off): 90+2
Officials:
- Referee: Javier Santos (PUR)
- Assistant Referee 1: Dion Neil (TRI)
- Assistant Referee 2: Graeme Browne (SKN)
- Fourth Official: Jairo Morales (PUR)
ussoccer.com Man of the Match: Wil Trapp