U.S. U-20 MNT coach Tab Ramos‘ team didn’t get the result they wanted, but it was good enough for first place after group play at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea. The young Americans used a first-half goal by Brooks Lennon, and a 10-man second-half defensive effort to tie Saudi Arabia 1-1.
The result sees the USA advance to the Round of 16 for a second-straight tournament, where Group E runner up New Zealand awaits.
Needing a win or draw to finish first, after Ecuador and Senagal played 0-0 earlier in the other final group game, the USA took the lead 1-0 when Lennon knocked in a rebound in the 40th minute of the first half. However, in the final minute before halftime, center back Cameron Carter-Vickers picked up his second yellow card of the game and was ejected.
The U.S. defense then held strong playing with 10 men the entire second half. Saudi Arabia did score the tying goal in the 75th minute, but could not find the game-winner.
Going through to the knockout phase as the group winner gave Ramos’ squad a favorable matchup as the knockout rounds begin. However, Carter-Vickers wasn’t the only loss. U.S. will also be without Derrick Jones and Aaron Herrera for the next match, as both drew yellow cards that earned them suspensions for the Round of 16.
The U.S. now moves on to play New Zealand in the Round of 16 at Incheon Stadium in Incheon, Korea Republic. Kickoff is set for 7 a.m. ET on FS1, FOX Sports Go and Telemundo En Vivo. The two nations previously met during the group stage of the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, with the United States collecting a 4-0 shutout.
| 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Group F Standings | ||||||||
| Team | GP | W | L | D | Pts. | GF | GA | GD |
| USA | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | +1 |
| Senegal | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | +1 |
| Saudi Arabia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
| Ecuador | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 |
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Brooks Lennon, 40th minute: The U.S. caught Saudi Arabia napping with Sebastian Saucedo getting free to the left of the Green Falcons area. He played into the box for Josh Sargent, who controlled the ball before finding Luca de la Torre near the penalty spot. De la Torre was able to maneuver into a shooting lane but saw his low effort saved by the Saudi ‘keeper. The rebound fell perfectly for Lennon who was stationed at the back right post, and the U.S. winger tapped home his first goal of the tournament. USA 1, KSA 0
KSA – Abdulelah Alamri (Sami Alnaji), 75th minute: Saudi captain Alnaji whipped in an out-swinging corner kick from the right side that Alamri met with an unchallenged header at the top of the six-yard box. The powerful headed shot left U.S. ‘keeper little chance as it spun into the far left side of the goal. USA 1, KSA 1 FINAL
Additional Notes:
- Brooks Lennon tallied his first goal of the tournament to go along with his assist in the 3-3 opening draw against Ecuador. The Real Salt Lake attacker has five goals and two assists in 10 international matches during 2017.
- Tab Ramos made one change from the starting XI that faced Senegal, inserting Sebastian Saucedo in midfield for Eryk Williamson.
- Center back Cameron Carter-Vickers was sent off after being shown yellow cards in the 40th minute and during the first minute of first-half stoppage time. The U.S. played down a man the rest of the way and will also be without Carter-Vickers as he serves an automatic one-game suspension against New Zealand in the Round of 16.
- The USA will also be without right back Aaron Herrera and central midfielder Derrick Jones against New Zealand. Both players were shown their second yellow cards of the tournament in the eighth and 32nd minutes, respectively.
- The game was the second meeting between the two nations at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, and first since the U.S. earned a 1-0 win during the group stage of the 1987 tournament in Chile.
- Ramos moves to 4-3-4 all-time at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
– U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team vs. Saudi Arabia
Date: May 28, 2017
Competition: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup – Group F
Venue: Daejeon World Cup Stadium; Daejeon, Korea Republic
Kickoff: 5 a.m. ET (6 p.m. local time)
Attendance: 5,460
Weather: 83 degrees; Sunny
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 0 1
KSA 0 1 1
USA – Brooks Lennon 40th minute
KSA – Abdulelah Alamri (Sami Alnaji) 74
Lineups:
USA: 1-Jonathan Klinsmann; 3-Danny Acosta, 5-Erik Palmer-Brown (capt.), 16-Cameron Carter-Vickers, 14-Aaron Herrera; 20-Luca de la Torre (7-Eryk Williamson, 89), 18-Derrick Jones, 8-Tyler Adams; 11-Sebastian Saucedo (6-Justen Glad, 46), 19-Josh Sargent (9-Emmanuel Sabbi, 70), 17-Brooks Lennon
Subs not used: 2-Auston Trusty, 4-Tommy Redding, 12-James Marcinkowski, 13-Lagos Kunga, 15-Jeremy Ebobisse, 21-Brady Scott
Not available: 10-Gedion Zelalem
Head coach: Tab Ramos
KSA : 1-Amin Albukhari; 2-Anas Zabbani (20-Mansour Almuwallad, 73), 5-Abdulelah Alamri, 6-Sami Alnaji (capt.), 7-Khalid Alsamiri (19-Fahad Alrashidi, 58), 10-Ayman Alkhulaif, 11-Abdulrahman Alyami, 13-Hassan Altambakti, 14-Ali Alasmari, 16-Abdulrahman Aldosari, 17-Abdullah Tarmin (15-Naif Kireiri, 68)
Subs not used: 3-Mohammad Albassas, 4-Awn Alsaluli, 8-Yousef Alharbi, 9-Hassan Alqayd, 12-Saleh Alohaymid, 18-Nasser Aldawsari, 21-Mohammed Alyami
Head coach: Saad Alshehri
Stats Summary: USA / KSA
Shots: 9 / 12
Shots on Goal: 2 / 5
Saves: 4 / 1
Corner Kicks: 4 / 5
Fouls: 14 / 18
Offside: 0 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Aaron Herrera (caution) 8th minute
KSA – Abdulrahman Aldosari (caution) 23
KSA – Sami Alnaji (caution) 30
USA – Derrick Jones (caution) 32
KSA – Abdullah Tarmin (caution) 33
USA – Cameron Carter-Vickers (caution) 40
USA – Cameron Carter-Vickers (caution) 45
USA – Cameron Carter-Vickers (sent off) 45
KSA – Abdulelah Alamri (caution) 65
Officials:
Referee: Diego Haro (PER)
Assistant Referee 1: Jonny Bossio (PER)
Assistant Referee 2: Raul Lopez (PER)
Fourth Official: Mario Diaz de Vivar (PAR)