USA downs Trinidad & Tobago 6-1 in Concacaf U-20 Championship

U.S. Boys / Men’s National Team Roster Pools (2018)
U-15 | U-16 | U-17 | U-18 | U-19 | U-20 | MNT

BRADENTON, Fla. (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team put in another confident effort, downing Trinidad & Tobago 6-1 in the sides’ third group match at the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship at IMG Academy Stadium. With the win and other results, the USA now sits three points clear at the top of Group A heading into Wednesday’s clash against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Looking to make an early statement, it took the USA just six minutes to get on the scoreboard when a nice sequence between Ulysses Llanez and Justin Rennicks led to Brandon Servania’s strike from 25 yards out.

Propelled by the early goal, the USA grabbed a second just two minutes later as Rennicks’ shot from the top of the area was redirected by Trinidad & Tobago defender Justin Homer and past goalkeeper Denzil Smith, resulting in an own goal in the eighth minute.

+READ: U.S. U-20 MNT routs Virgin Islands 13-0 in Concacaf Championship

Fully in control of the match, the USA added one more before halftime with Rennicks playing the catalyst again. The Indiana University midfielder latched onto an errant pass out of the back and alertly fed Pomykal at the top of the box for the FC Dallas product to fire home a one-time effort in the 45^th minute.

U.S. head coach Tab Ramos’ side continued to attack after the break, leading to a three-goal sequence in the space of four minutes. It began when a nice connection between Rennicks and Pomykal led to Alex Mendez’s 52^nd minute strike.

Trinidad & Tobago pulled a goal back when Nickell Orr linked up with Isaiah Lee two minutes later, but Ulysses Llanez answered with a measured effort off the right post to record his tournament-leading fifth goal and give the USA a 5-1 advantage in the 56^th minute.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the USA added one more goal as Mendez slipped substitute Juan Pablo Torres through the back line to finish his first of the tournament in the third minute of second-half stoppage time.

+READ: Boys Development Academy East Conference Recap | Oct. 27-28, 2018

Monday’s other Group A matches saw Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1-2-0; 3 pts.) defeat U.S. Virgin Islands 3-0 (0-3-0; 0 pts.), while Puerto Rico (1-2-0; 3 pts.) earned a 2-1 comeback victory against Suriname (2-1-0; 6 pts.).

With those results, the USA (3-0-0; 9 pts.) now sits three points clear atop Group A and could officially clinch its place in the Classification Stage on Wednesday with a win against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines combine with a draw between Trinidad & Tobago and Suriname.

Up Next: The U-20 MNT plays its fourth match of the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship on Wednesday, Nov. 7 against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Kickoff from IMG Soccer Stadium in Bradenton, Fla., is set for 8 p.m. ET and can be seen live on UDN and the ConcacafGo app. Social: Twitter (@ussoccer_ynt; @ussoccer_esp); Facebook; Instagram

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Brandon Servania (Justin Rennicks), 6th minute: The U.S. opened the scoring early through a nice sequence up the left. Justin Rennicks received a quick pass from Ulysses Llanez and before playing a short ball into the path of Servania. Running onto it in stride, Servania fired a low, right-footed effort from 25 yards that crept just inside the left post. USA 1, TRI 0  

USA – Justin Homer (own goal), 8^th minute: Continuing to pour on the pressure, the USA grabbed a second goal two minutes later. Ayo Akinola’s cross from the right was poorly cleared just outside the area by Malike Mieres. Paxton Pomykal won the ball at the top of the penalty arc and played quickly for Justin Rennicks whose quick hit deflected off Homer and redirected past flat-footed goalkeeper Denzil Smith. USA 2, TRI 0

USA – Paxton Pomykal (Justin Rennicks), 45^th minute: A routine ball over the top was played too casually at the back by Trinidad defender Luke Singh, whose soft touch fell straight into Rennicks’ path. The U.S. forward drove towards goal before cutting a pass back to Pomykal who one-timed a low effort inside the left post. USA 3, TRI 0

USA – Alex Mendez (Paxton Pomykal), 52nd minute: Chris Gloster’s throw-in was flicked on by Rennicks, giving Pomykal a free lane into the area. The FC Dallas midfielder cut back into space for Mendez who fired home from near the penalty spot. USA 4, TRI 0

TRI – Isaiah Lee (Nickell Orr), 54^th minute – Trinidad & Tobago pulled one back as Nickell Orr worked down the left and pulled a nice step over before centering a low cross for Lee who redirected past Brady Scott from inside the six. USA 4, TRI 1

USA – Ulysses Llanez (unassisted), 56^th minute – Brandon Servania’s cross from the right was pawed away by Denzil Smith, who made a point-blank save on Pomykal’s rebound. The ball rebounded to the top of the box where Llanez measured his finish, finessing his fifth of the tournament past Smith and in off the right post. USA 5, TRI 1

USA – Juan Pablo Torres (Alex Mendez), 90+3 minute – In the closing seconds, Mendez slipped Torres through the Soca Warriors back line where the substitute confidently finished past Smith to close the scoring. USA 6, TRI 1 FINAL.

Key Saves and Defensive Stops
TRI – Denzil Smith, 14th minute: After Ulysses Llanez was fouled just outside of the penalty area, Alex Mendez stepped up and curled a low free kick around the wall only to have Smith make an alert, diving stop at his right post.

TRI – Denzil Smith, 25th minute: Helping to push the attack, center back Matt Real slotted a ball through the back line to find Llanez. Coming in on the left, he played across for Mendez, but Smith was quick off his line to deny the first attempt, before Mendez sent his rebound effort just past the right post.

TRI – Denzil Smith, 64th minute:  Playing with his back to goal, Alex Mendez turned his defender and rifled a 25-yard effort that Smith dove to push off his right post before it was cleared.

USA – Brady Scott, 76^th minute: Trying to carve more into the USA lead, Trinidad & Tobago defender Luke Singh blasted a low free kick that Scott got down to his right to put out for a corner kick.

NOTES:

• With the result, Tab Ramos moves to 15-3-2 all-time in Concacaf U-20 Championship play.
• The USA is unbeaten in its last eight Concacaf U-20 Championship matches.
• The USA improves its Concacaf U-20 Championship record against Trinidad & Tobago to 11-2-2.
• Ulysses Llanez 56^th minute goal keeps him atop the tournament’s Golden Boot standings with five.
• Eleven different players have scored a goal for the USA in the first two games: Llanez (5), Ayo Akinola (3), Justin Rennicks (3), Alex Mendez (3), Paxton Pomykal (3), Mark McKenzie (2), Griffin Dorsey, Anthony Fontana, Manny Perez, Brandon Servania and Juan Pablo Torres.
•  Llanez, Mendez and Pomykal have tallied in each of the USA’s three matches thus far.

– U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team Match Report –

Match: U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team vs. Trinidad & Tobago
Date: November 5, 2018
Competition: 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship – Group A
Venue: IMG Academy; Bradenton, Fla.
Kickoff: 7:45 p.m. ET
Attendance: 1,100
Weather: 74 degrees; clear

Scoring Summary:           1             2             F
USA                                      3             3             6
TRI                                       0             1             1

USA – Brandon Servania (Paxton Pomykal)            6th minute
USA – Justin Homer (own goal)                                 8
USA – Paxton Pomykal (Justin Rennicks)                 45
USA – Alex Mendez (Paxton Pomykal)                     52
TRI – Isaiah Lee (Nickel Orr)                                       54
USA – Ulysses Llanez                                                    56
USA – Juan Pablo Torres (Alex Mendez)                  90+3

Lineups:
USA: 1-Brady Scott; 16-Julian Araujo, 4-Mark McKenzie, 5-Matt Real (capt.), 3-Chris Gloster; 10-Paxton Pomykal, 6-Brandon Servania, 8-Alex Mendez, 17-Ayo Akinola (20-Frankie Amaya, 82), 9-Justin Rennicks (13-Griffin Dorsey, 70), 11-Ulysses Llanez (7-Juan Pablo Torres, 63)
Subs not used: 12-David Ochoa, 14-Manny Perez; 15-Anthony Fontana, 18-Issac Angking, 19-Sam Rogers
Head coach: Tab Ramos

TRI: 1-Denzil Smith; 5-Justin Homer (15-John P. Rochford, 27), 2-Malik Mieres, 16-Luke Singh, 17-Matthew Beal (6-Isaiah Lee, 46); 19-Shaqkeem Joséph, 4-Jackie Jerrin, 8-Jabarry Francis, 13-Nickel Orr (7-Mark Ramdeen, 87); 9-Jaydon Prowell; 10-Judah Garcia (capt.)
Subs not used: 20-Jabari Brice, 3-Derron John, 18-Kerdell Sween, 11-Che Benny, 14-Ethan Bonaparte, 12-Kishon Hackshaw
Head coach: Russel Latapy

Stats Summary: USA / TRI
Shots: 24 / 8
Shots on Goal: 10 / 4
Saves: 3 / 4
Corner Kicks: 4 / 1
Fouls: 16 / 12
Offside: 3 / 4

Misconduct Summary:
TRI – Nickel Orr (caution)                                    37^th minute
TRI – Jackie Jerrin (caution)                                 45+2
TRI – Judah Garcia (caution)                               55

Officials:
Referee: Juan Calderon (CRC)
Assistant Referee 1: Henri Pupiro (NCA)
Assistant Referee 2: David Moran (SLV)
Fourth Official: Fernando Hernández (MEX)

ussoccer.com Man of the Match: Brandon Servania