U.S. U-20 men hit late as Guatemala snatch draw in World Cup qualifying opener
KINGSTON, Jamaica (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team got their World Cup qualifying tournament off to an uneven start on Friday evening, as coach Tab Ramos’ side were stunned by a 90th-minute equalizer from FC Dallas prospect Andy Ruiz that handed Guatemala a 1-1 draw with the USA in the teams’ opening match of the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship at Independence Park.
Tottenham center back Cameron Carter-Vickers’ first goal for the U.S. Under-20s in the 58th minute highlighted a dominant display — in every respect but the scoreboard — from the USA, who were unlucky not to pierce the Guatemalan defense on more than one occasion.
Carter-Vickers leaped highest to loft a well-place header back across the face of goal and into the side netting, after defender Shaq Moore’s powerful run to the end line won the U.S. a corner that second-half sub Emerson Hyndman curled to the back post.
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But Ruiz produced a highlight-reel strike to snatch a draw in the dying moments, volleying home a half-clearance from 25 yards away from goal to beat U.S. goalkeeper Zack Steffen after a half-cleared Guatemala corner kick.
The USA pushed forward early, winning a handful of free kicks and corners with attacks down the flanks through Tommy Thompson and Romain Gall.
Thompson nearly gave the U.S. an early lead with a hard shot from a tight angle that was saved by Guatemala goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen.
The U.S. dominated the run of play throughout the first half, even when playing with 10 men after defender Matt Miazga was sidelined for an extended period to close a gash over his right eye suffered in an aerial challenge with a Guatemalan forward.
Despite their dominance of possession, the U.S. weren’t able to craft many quality scoring chances aside from Thompson’s until late in the first 45 minutes, when Vickers nearly turned home a Paul Arriola cross at the back post and Gall volleyed a Shaq Moore feed just wide of the Guatemala net.
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The second half saw more of the same from the U.S. U-20s. Fulham midfielder Emerson Hyndman barley missed on a long-range effort that had Hagen beaten, and Sunderland forward Lynden Gooch saw a partially-blocked shot scooped up as well by the Guatemalan ‘keeper.
The USA next plays Panama, which beat Aruba 4-0 in the day’s opening match, on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET (broadcast on FOX Sports 2). Each team in the 12-team tournament will play at least five games this month, with four FIFA U-20 World Cup spots on the line.
