The U.S. U-17 MNT came close to closing out the CONCACAF U-17 Men’s Championship in Panama City. Leading 1-0 going into second-half stoppage time, the young Americans saw Mexico equalize 1-1 on a last-minute goal. The game, and the championship, was decided in a shootout, won by Mexico (5-4).
The result ended the U.S. U-17s’ perfect run through the tournament after beginning the competition with five-straight wins. Both the USA and Mexico had already earned advancement to the FIFA U-17 World Cup this fall in India with wins in the semifinals. U.S. coach John Hackworth’s team beat Mexico in group play and the title game officially goes into the record books as a draw.
The U.S. went up 1-0 in the second half on a goal from Andrew Carleton off an assist from Tim Weah. Mexico equalized on a header by Carlos Robles in the 90th minute.
In the shootout, both teams scored on their first three shots. Akil Watts sailed the fourth U.S. kick over the crossbar.
As the second half continued following Carleton’s goal, Mexico continued to press, but was repeatedly repelled by the U.S. defense, a unit that allowed just six goals throughout the six-game tournament. However, the equalizer eventually came as Carlos Robles headed Mexico’s equalizer in stoppage time.
Now, both teams look towards this fall’s World Cup, which is set for Oct. 6-28 in India.
Following the match, U.S. GK Justin Garces was awarded the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
| U-17 MNT Results at 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship | |||
| Date | Result | Round | Goal Scorers |
| April 23 | 5-0 W vs. Jamaica | Group Stage | Durkin, Weah, Sargent, Akinola (2) |
| April 26 | 4-3 W vs. Mexico | Group Stage | Sargent (2), Ferri, Akinola |
| April 29 | 1-0 W vs. El Salvador | Group Stage | Z. Jones |
| May 3 | 3-0 W vs. Honduras | Classification Stage | Sargent (2), Akinola |
| May 5 | 6-2 W vs. Cuba | Classification Stage | Vassilev, Carleton, Z. Jones, Reynolds, Weah, o.g. |
| May 7 | 1-1 D (4-5 PKs) vs. Mexico | Final | Carleton |
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Andrew Carleton (Tim Weah), 62nd minute: The U.S. took advantage of a Mexico mistake to break the deadlock. After the Mexico back line pushed the ball around the defensive end, goalkeeper Cesar Lopez’s shanked his clearance, popping the ball up just outside the penalty area. Substitute Tim Weah alertly won the aerial challenge with Luis Olivas, heading it down for Andrew Carleton who took the ball on the hop and fired a blistering effort that evaded Lopez before sneaking inside the left post. USA 1, MEX 0
MEX – Carlos Robles (Daniel Lopez), 90+2 minute: Relentless in their quest for an equalizer, Mexico would get it in dramatic fashion as Lopez’s dangerous cross from the left picked out Robles who nodded his header inside the back post to send the match to penalty kicks.
USA 1, MEX 1 FINAL
NOTES:
- The USA is now 1-4-3 all-time vs. Mexico in CONCACAF U-17 Championship play.
- With the result, John Hackworth moves to 9-1-2 all-time in U-17 World Cup Qualifying matches.
- Justin Garces was awarded the Golden Glove as the tournament’s best goalkeeper.
- S. captain Josh Sargent finished as the tournament’s third leading goal scorer with five goals.
- Ayo Akinola finished tied for fourth on the scoring chart with four goals.
– U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team vs. Mexico
Date: May 7, 2017
Competition: 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship – Final
Venue: Estadio Rommel Fernández; Panamá City, Panamá
Kickoff: 3 p.m. CT
Attendance: 233
Weather: 84 degrees; mostly cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 1 1
MEX 0 1 1
USA – Andrew Carleton (Tim Weah) 62nd minute
MEX – Carlos Robles (Daniel Lopez) 90+2
Penalty Summary:
USA: Josh Sargent (goal), Tim Weah (goal), Chris Goslin (goal), Akil Watts (missed), James Sands (goal)
MEX: Daniel Lopez (goal), Carlos Robles (goal), Jairo Torres (goal), Alexis Gutierrez (goal), Roberto De La Rosa (goal)
U.S. loses 4-5 on PKs
Lineups:
USA: 1-Justin Garces; 2-Jaylin Lindsey, 4-James Sands, 5-Arturo Vasquez, 3-Chris Gloster; 8-Blaine Ferri (17-Bryan Reynolds, 80), 6-Chris Durkin, 14-Chris Goslin, 7-Ayo Akinola (19-Tim Weah, 56), 9-Josh Sargent (capt.), 11-Andrew Carleton (13-Akil Watts, 86)
Subs not used: 10-George Acosta, 12-Carlos Dos Santos, 15-Zyen Jones, 16-Taylor Booth, 18-Indiana Vassilev, 20-Adrian Villegas
Head coach: John Hackworth
MEX: 12-Cesar Lopez; 2-Adrian Vazquez, 3-Carlos Robles, 4-Luis Olivas (capt.), 5-Raul Sandoval (15-Andres Catalan, 7); 7-Jairo Torres, 16-Marco Ruiz (19-Cesar Huerta, 23), 8-Alexis Gutierrez, 11-Andres Perez (20-Alfonso Alvarado, 53); 10-Roberto De La Rosa, 9-Daniel Lopez
Subs not used: 1-Andre Alcaraz, 6-Luis Gamiz, 13-Haret Ortega, 14-Alan Maeda, 17-Carlos Guerrero, 18-Victor Reyes
Head coach: Mario Alberto Arteaga
Stats Summary: USA / MEX
Shots: 12 / 19
Shots on Goal: 4 / 4
Saves: 3 / 3
Corner Kicks: 1 / 8
Fouls: 19 / 16
Offside: 0 / 4
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Tim Weah (caution) 83rd minute
Officials:
Referee: Hector Martinez (HON)
Assistant Referee 1: David Moran (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: Kevin Stephens (GUY)
4th Official: Ismael Cornejo (SLV)