USA advances to knockout phase of Concacaf U-17 Championship

BRADENTON, Fla. (Via U.S. Soccer) — The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team advanced to the knockout phase of the 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship following an authoritative 6-1 win over Barbados in its second Group F game of the tournament. With the victory, the United States stays on top of the group with six points from two matches, as well as nine goals scored and three conceded.

A pair of first-half goals from Gianluca Busio tied him for the tournament lead with three goals and increased his tally to six total in his last nine games for club and country. The United States proved to be an absolute menace on restarts, scoring six goals across its two matches either directly from or through free kicks and corners.

The U.S. closes out group play against Guatemala on Monday, May 6 at 6 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the match on Concacaf Facebook page and Univision Deportes Network.

The top three teams from each group qualify to the Round of 16. Four teams — Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico — advanced directly to the Round of 16 from a pre-tournament qualifying phase. The four tournament semifinalists earn berths to the U-17 World Cup.

U.S. U-17 head coach Raphael Wicky made seven changes to the group that earned a 3-2 comeback win against Canada in the tournament opener. The U-17s came out firing on all cylinders from the opening whistle, pinning Barbabos in its own end for virtually the entire first half and finishing with an 11-1 advantage in shots.

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Set pieces were the name of the game, as team captain Kobe Hernandez got the U.S. on the board in the 20th minute with a skillful free kick, while Busio doubled the lead six minutes later with some magic of his own. A short corner led to Adam Saldana’s first goal of the competition at the 33-minute mark, before another cleverly-choreographed restart resulted in Busio’s second tally of the half.

The second stanza read much like the first, with any of hopes of a Barbadian revival getting doused just two minutes in after an unfortunate own goal off the foot of defender Ethan Bryan. The U.S. added its final goal from the run of play when a pinpoint delivery from Hernandez and the deft touch of Ocampo Chavez led to the USA’s sixth of the match. A penalty awarded to Barbados in the 53rd minute put the Bajan Tridents on the scoresheet, and a Nathan Skeete point-blank shot from the penalty spot could have added intrigue in the 63rd minute save for the quick reflexes of the U.S. goalkeeper Chituru Odunze. The 6-7 netminder was equal to the task and parried it over the crossbar as the United States remained firmly in control and finished out the contest still on the front foot.

Goal Scoring Rundown:

USA – Kobe Hernandez, 20th minute
After earning a foul deep in Barbados territory, Hernandez lined up over the free kick 10 yards from the end line far to the right of the goal. He whipped a curling ball to the back post that fooled the Barbados goalkeeper Brandon Sumpter and tucked into the far-side netting. USA 1, BRB 0

USA – Gianluca Busio, 26th minute
Another free kick opportunity, this time in a dangerous spot 25 yards from goal. Busio struck a wicked bender that went up and down, dipping away from the diving ‘keeper to the near post. USA 2, BRB 0

USA – Adam Saldana, 33rd minute
Off a short corner, Busio crossed into the area and the attempted clearance from Barbados found Saldana lurking just outside the box. He ripped a low drive from near the top of the penalty arc that caromed off a defender and past the forlorn goalkeeper. USA 3, BRB 0

USA – Gianluca Busio (Gilbert Fuentes), 45th minute
With another chance looming 30 yards from goal, Wicky pulled another set play from his bag of tricks. This time, Hernandez passed forward to Gilbert Fuentes, who was stationed near the Barbados wall. He laid off to a charging Busio, who hit a screamer through traffic. Sumpter got his hands on the ball but couldn’t keep it out of the back of the net. USA 4, BRB 0

USA- Own Goal (Ethan Bryan), 47th minute
Jack de Vries barreled forward down the right flank and delivered across the box. Skipping past a charging U.S. attacker, Ethan Bryan found himself in murky territory with his back to the goal. His attempted clearance went sour, rocketing into his own goal. USA 5, BRB 0

USA- Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez (Kobe Hernandez), 50th minute
The U.S. captain put his long-range passing skills on display, launching a perfect ball over the top that sent Ocampo-Chavez streaking behind the Barbadian defense. Remarkable control with his first touch was equaled by his deft second, as Ocampo-Chavez slotted it past the charging ‘keeper to increase the U.S. total to a half dozen. USA 6, BRB 0

BRB – Devonte Richards (pen), 54th minute
A cross from the left hit off the arm of U.S. defender Joseph Scally just inside the area and the referee whistled for a hand ball and a penalty. Devonte Richards calmly stepped up and fooled goalkeeper Chituru Odunze, slotting into the low right corner. USA 6, BRB 1

U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team Match Report

Match: U.S. Under-17 MNT vs. Barbados
Date: May 4, 2019
Competition: 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship
Attendance: 215
Venue: IMG Academy; Bradenton, Fla.
Kick-off: 4 p.m. ET
Weather: 87 degrees, partly cloudy

Scoring Summary:      1          2          F
USA                             4          2          6
BRB                             0          1          1

USA – Kobe Hernandez                       20th minute
USA – Gianluca Busio                          26
USA – Adam Saldana                          36
USA – Gianluca Busio                          45
USA – Own goal (Ethan Bryan)           47
BRB – Devonte Richards (penalty)      54

Lineups:
USA: 12-Chituru Odunze, 2-Joseph Scally, 5-Kobe Hernandez (capt.), 14-Tayvon Gray, 15-John Tolkin, 6-Daniel Leyva (13-Mauricio Cuevas, 55), 16-Adam Saldana, 20-Gilbert Fuentes, 18-Jack de Vries (11-Griffin Yow, 81), 19-Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, 7-Gianluca Busio (17-Tyler Freeman, 46)
Subs Not Used: 1-Damian Las, 3-Adam Armour, 4-Axel Alejandre, 9-Ricardo Pepi, 10-Gio Reyna
Head Coach: Raphael Wicky

BRB: 18-Brandon Sumpter, 2-Ethan Bryan, 4-Lemar Catlyn, 6-Andre Applewhaite, 17-Shaquanie Phillips, 8-Jahmali Hutson (7-Tajio James, 57), 11-Asher Jnpierre (19-Jamol Williams, 46), 12-Roshon Gittens (capt.)(13-Devonte Richards, 46), 14-Nathan Skeete, 15-Jaylan Gilkes, 16-Hashim Brewster
Subs Not Used: 1-Shaquan Phillips, 9-Abiola Grant, 10-Thierry Gale, 20-Axel Funk
Head Coach: Renaldo Gilkes

Statistical Summary: USA / BRB
Shots: 18 / 3
Shots on Goal: 8 / 2
Saves: 4 / 0
Corner Kicks: 9 / 4
Fouls: 15 / 13
Offside: 2 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
BRB – Andre Applewhaite (caution)               90th minute

Officials:
Referee: Ismael Cornejo (SLV)
Assistant Referee: Geovany Garcia Lima (SLV)
Assistant Referee: Caleb (TRI)
Fourth official: Henry Bejarano (CRC)

ussoccer.com Man of the Match: Adam Saldana