USA beats Canada 1-0, completing perfect run in Group F at Concacaf U-17 Championship

ANTIGUA, Guatemala – The U.S. Under-17 Men’s Youth National Team took down Canada 1-0 to finish atop Group F at the Concacaf U-17 Championship.

Substitute forward Keyrol Figueroa headed home the breakthrough in the 65th minute, finishing off a booming cross from winger David Vazquez.

With the result, the USA finishes at the top of Group F with three victories in three games. The U-17 MYNT will face the Dominican Republic in the Round of 16 on Saturday, Feb. 18 (5 p.m. ET; Fox Soccer Plus, ViX+). Dominican Republic qualified directly to the Round of 16 via a pre-qualifying tournament.

Figueroa with the flick to score his second goal in the @concacaf Championship ??

? » @foxsoccerpic.twitter.com/cjaqEEzqQy

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) February 16, 2023

FINAL GROUP F STANDINGS

After controlling much of the game, the U.S. gained attacking momentum as things opened up in the second half. Vazquez, active all evening on the left wing, sent a soaring a cross into the box for Figueroa in the aftermath of a corner. His glancing header from the six was perfectly placed, securing another three points for the USA.

On the evening, the USA out-possessed Canada 67 percent to 33, but struggled early to find quality shots as the Reds’ defense proved tough to break down in the final third. Starting center forward Ezekiel Soto once again caused problems leading the USA’s press and created some of the U-17s’ best early looks of the evening as he pressured the Canadian goalkeeper and defense.

The U-17s had several spells of prolonged possession in Canadian territory, but didn’t fire off its first shot until the 25th, when Cruz Medina ripped one from just outside the 18 and forced goalkeeper Nathaniel Abraham to make a diving save. Vazquez teed up Soto for an opportunity just before the half, but wasn’t able to get enough of his foot on the rolling cross to challenge the ‘keeper.

While Canada threatened on a few counters, the U.S. attack started to find its footing with a few quality chances early in the second half. Vazquez nearly found the opener in the 56th as he ripped a shot over the crossbar and had another go in the 63rd.

The U.S. defense held strong down the stretch to preserve the 1-0 shutout victory. Canada’s best last-gasp effort came on a free kick just outside the box in the 84th, but Duran Ferree made an impressive leaping save to push it over the bar.

GOAL SCORING RUNDWON:

USA – Keylor Figueroa (David Vazquez), 65th minute: As Canada attempted to clear a U.S. corner kick, Adrian Gill controlled it outside the box and played to Vazquez five yards beyond the left corner of the box. He served a booming ball to the middle of the six, where an onrushing Figueroa flicked it to the far post past the diving goalkeeper for what proved to be the difference-maker. USA 1, CAN 0

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• The USA improves to 10-1-0 all-time vs. Canada at the Concacaf U-17 Championship and has won 10 straight since losing the first meeting in 1988.

• Head coach Gonzalo Segares made eight changes to the starting XI from the USA’s second match vs. Trinidad and Tobago: goalkeeper Duran Ferree replaced Adam Beaudry, defenders Tyler Hall and Oscar Verhoeven replaced Stuart Hawkins and Sawyer Jura, midfielders Adrian Gill, Cruz Medina and Edwyn Mendoza replaced Chris Aquino, Taha Habroune and Pedro Soma while forwards Brian Romero and Ezekiel Soto replaced Micah Burton and Paulo Rudisill.

• Figueroa’s goal was his second of the tournament and Vazquez’s assist was his second in Guatemala.

-U.S. UNDER-17 MEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: United States Under-17 Men’s Youth National Team vs. Canada
Date: Feb. 15, 2023
Competition: 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship – Group Stage
Venue: Estadio Pensativo; Antigua, Guatemala
Attendance:
Kickoff: 7 p.m. local (8 p.m. ET)
Weather: 76 degrees, partly cloudy

Scoring Summary:      1   2   F
USA                              0   1   1
CAN                             0   0   0

USA – Keyrol Figueroa (David Vazquez)          65th minute

Lineups:

USA:1-Duran Ferree; 13-Aiden Harangi, 15-Christian Diaz, 4-Tyler Hall (Capt.) (8-Pedro Soma, 77), 2-Oscar Verhoeven (3-Sawyer Jura, 62); 6-Edwyn Mendoza, 16-Adrian Gill (14-Taha Habroune, 78), 10-Cruz Medina; 7-Brian Romero (20-Chris Aquino, 87), 18-Ezekiel Soto (17-Keyrol Figueroa, 62), 11-David Vazquez

Substitutes not used: 12-Adam Beaudry, 5-Stuart Hawkins, 9-Micah Burton 19-Paulo Rudisill

Head coach: Gonzalo Segares

CAN:1-Nathaniel Abraham; 2-Theo Rigopoulos (12-Aidan Fong, 46), 3-Gael de Motigny (11-Lucas Ozimec, 46), 6-Lazar Stefanovic (Capt.), 8-Jeevan Badwal (20-Andrei Dumitru, 46), 9-Erik Pop, 10-Antoine N’diaye, 13-Richard Chukwu, 14-Ruben De Sa (19-Kyler Vojvodic, 71), 15-Victor Fung (16-Etienne Godin, 82), 17-Liam Mackenzie
Substitutes not used: 18-Alexander O’Brien, 4-Alessandro Biello, 7-Ibrahim Higazy

Head coach: Andrew Oliveri

Stats Summary: USA / CAN
Shots: 10 / 4
Shots on Goal: 3 / 2
Saves: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 5 / 1
Fouls: 13 / 6
Offside: 4 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
CAN – Gael de Motigny (Caution)                   44^th minute
USA – Aiden Harangi (Caution)                       83
CAN – Etienne Godin (Caution)                      85

Officials:
Referee: Fernando Moron (PAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Aczel Perez (GUA)
Assistant Referee 2: Jorge Ordonez (GUA)
Fourth Official: Norberto Da Silva (CUW)