The U-20 USMNT finished out their initial group stage with a 4-1 win vs St. Kitts and Nevis. Here are all the goals and a look forward to the next round.
Coming into Friday’s match, the U-20 USMNT needed at least a draw against St. Kitts and Nevis in order to advance from their group. With that in mind, they came out firing. After just 15 minutes, Brooks Lennon was able to get on the end of a ball sent across the 6-yard-box from Jeremy Ebobisse.
GOAL United States, Brooks LENNON No. 17 | @ussoccer #StKittsNevis #CU20CRC pic.twitter.com/e1BjgO9OvH
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) February 24, 2017
Just four minutes later, Jonathan Lewis was able to finish off a designed play from a corner to double the team’s lead.
GOAL United States, Jonathan LEWIS No. 20 | @ussoccer #StKittsNevis #CU20CRC pic.twitter.com/1LPhaxG9RT
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) February 24, 2017
The first half barrage was only just beginning, however. The USA kept the pressure up and found the back of the net in the 35th minute thanks to a long range strike by Sebastian Saucedo.
https://twitter.com/ussoccer_ynt/status/835268062358089728
The USA made sure to get one more before the half. In the 41st, Saucedo double his tally with an impressive free kick that squeezed in just under the St. Kitts and Nevis goalie.
Sebastian Saucedo does it again! This time on a free kick for his brace. U-20 #USMNT pouring it on now, 4-0.
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) February 24, 2017
Watch: https://t.co/plPow1levC pic.twitter.com/hu5Pj9sQxC
With the game essentially over, the USA took their foot off the pedal and began to just coast toward the end of the game. Late in the game, the USA defense made a poor back pass to the goalie that was intercepted by Romario Martin. Martin eventually finished on the open net to get a consolation goal before St. Kitts and Nevis bowed out of the tournament.
GOAL St. Kitts & Nevis, Romario MARTIN No. 9 | @ussoccer #StKittsNevis #CU20CRC pic.twitter.com/ovl7htsEHU
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) February 25, 2017
The full match report can be seen here on the US Soccer website.
With play in group B over, the USA will be advancing as the second place team in their opening group. This means they will go into Group D with Mexico and (likely) El Salvador.
The three teams will play round robin with the top two advancing to the U-20 World Cup. This is bound to be a good challenge for the USA. Mexico is the favorite to win the tournament, and El Salvador usually has pretty good youth teams.
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The USA will play Mexico on Monday (2/27), and then play El Salvador on Friday (3/3). Both matches can be seen via Facebook Live.