U-20 World Cup: United States 4 - 0 New Zealand
U-20 World Cup: United States 4 - 0 New Zealand
The US earns its fourth-consecutive quarterfinals appearance as they trounce New Zealand in the Round of 16!
The United States Under-20 squad returned to action Tuesday afternoon as they faced New Zealand in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup Round of 32!
The United States entered the match after picking up three shutout wins in the group stage against Ecuador, Fiji, and Slovakia. The US U20s also came into the game with an impressive eight-game winning streak dating back to 2022’s Concacaf U20 Championship. A winning streak that has seen the US U20s outscore their opponents twenty-five to zero.
Anthony Hudson lined up his squad in a 3-4-3 formation as Chelsea’s Gabriel Slonina returned in between the post as Louisville City’s Joshua Wynder, Philadelphia Union’s Brandan Craig, and Hoffenheim’s Justin Che comprised the backline. Atlanta United’s Caleb Wiley, New York Red Bulls’ Daniel Edelman, Philadelphia’s Jack McGlynn, and Real Sociedad’s Jonathan Gomez formed the midfield, as San Jose’s Cade Cowell, Real Salt Lakes’ Diego Luna, and Austin’s Owen Wolff provided the attack.
Norman Gabert came close to putting New Zealand ahead just five minutes into the match as he unloaded a shot on goal. Luckily for the United States, Gabert’s shot deflected off a defender and sailed into the air as Slonina caught the ball. Some controversy after the play as the game paused as the play was under review for a possible handball on the United States inside the box. After two minutes of head referee Mohamed Marouf waiting for a decision, play continued after the video review crew determined there was no handball.
Jay Herdman came close to giving New Zealand the lead in the 11th minute as he sent a left-footed shot to the bottom-left corner. Slonina read the shot well as he stretched out to make the save as the ball trickled out of play for a New Zealand corner kick.
A stroke of luck came the United States’ way in the 14th minute as Owen Wolff sent a weak right-footed shot to the bottom-left corner. Wolff’s shot slowly dribbled to the corner as it looked like Kees Sims would dive to his right and make the save. That was until the ball rolled past a diving Sims and into the net to give the United States a 1-0 lead fourteen minutes in. Sims was distraught with himself after the goal.
Diego Luna nearly doubled the US lead in the 18th minute as his shot deflected off a New Zealand defender and ricocheted toward the goal. The deflection had too much on it as it bounced off the underside of the crossbar back into the box as New Zealand recovered the ball.
Jack McGlynn nearly found the back of the net in the 34th minute after Owen Wolff cut the ball back to McGlynn outside the box. McGlynn unleashed a shot on goal, but it had too much on it as it sailed over the crossbar.
Jonathan Gomez came close to finding the net in the 50th minute as Caleb Wiley drove down the left flank and cut the ball centrally to Gomez. Gomez's right-footed shot was just off as the ball rolled out for a goal kick.
Caleb Wiley looked to get the US another goal in the 52nd minute as he crossed the ball centrally. Sims read the ball as he punched it away. Sims' punch wasn't hard enough as it traveled directly to Edelman. Edelman unleashed the shot, but it had too much on it as it sailed over the crossbar.
Cade Cowell doubled the United States lead in the 61st minute as he found himself one-on-one with a defender just outside the box. Cowell cut the ball to his left and nutmegged a shot between the defender's legs as Sims watched the ball roll into the bottom-right corner as Cowell notched his third goal in as many games.
Mikey Varas’ first changes came in the 71st minute as Orlando’s Michael Halliday and Seattle’s Obed Vargas replaced Jack McGlynn and Caleb Wiley.
The United States executed a perfect counterattack in the 75th minute as Diego Luna drove up the center of the pitch. Luna withstood the New Zealand Pressure as he advanced the ball forward to Cade Cowell on the left flank. Kees Sims came off his line to pressure, but Cowell evaded it and cut the ball to his left. Realizing he didn’t have an angle to shoot, Cowell cut the ball centrally to Luna. Luna attempted a simple tap-in, but the New Zealand defense recovered and deflected the attempt. The rebound fell right to Justin Che, who slotted the ball into the net to give the US a 3-0 lead!
Another pair of substitutions came in the 78th minute as San Jose’s Niko Tsakiris and Hajduk Split’s Rokas Pukstas came on for Owen Wolff and Diego Luna.
The United States was awarded a golden opportunity in the 81st minute as Norman Garbett fouled Jonathan Gomez in the US attacking half. Brandan Craig stood over the ball and lobbed the free kick to the back post. Kees Sims leaped into the air to clear the ball away but didn’t jump high enough as the ball evaded Sims’ reach. Craig’s free-kick found substitute Rokas Pukstas at the back post as he headed the ball into the net to give the US a 4-0 lead!
Varas’ final change came in the 83rd minute as Wolfburg’s Kevin Paredes came on for Cade Cowell.
Despite having nine minutes added to the second half, Gabriel Slonina and the US defense stood tall as they secured their fourth clean sheet of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup tournament and earned their fourth consecutive trip to the competition’s quarterfinals after securing a 4-0 win over New Zealand.
The US will learn who they will face in the quarterfinals on June 1st, as the winner of Uruguay versus Gambia will face the United States on June 4th at 5:00 PM ET on FS2!