USA advances to Qualification Stage of Concacaf U-20 Championship

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BRADENTON, Fla. (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team completed its dominating sweep of Group A of the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship with a 7-0 win against Suriname on Friday night at IMG Academy Stadium.

With 15 points from five games, the USA won the group and will now advance to the Qualification Stage, where they’ll face Group E winner, Costa Rica and Group C winner, Honduras, on Nov. 16 and 19, respectively. The top two teams will qualify for the 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, with the winner advancing to the Concacaf U-20 Championship final.

For the fourth time in the five group games, the USA took a lead within seven minutes of the game, tonight courtesy of Alex Mendez, who curled in a left-footed free kick over the wall and into the side net from 22 yards out to open the scoring.

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The USA had a chance to double the lead in the 22^nd minute, but Suriname goalkeeper Rivaldo Soesman saved a penalty kick by Griffin Dorsey. Minutes later, Mendez set up the second goal, working a quick corner kick with Paxton Pomykal before getting the ball back and whipping in a dangerous cross into the box. Centerback and captain for the night Mark McKenzie out-jumped his mark and connected on a header, sending the ball past the goalkeeper for his third goal of the tournament.

The USA essentially put the game away with two quick strikes from Ayo Akinola, who got on the end of passes from Griffin Dorsey and Paxton Pomykal from close range to stretch the lead to 4-0 before the break.

With continued long stretches of possession and little challenges defensively, the USA added three more in the second half. Juan Pablo Torres guided a shot through traffic at the hour mark, second half substitute Justin Rennicks added his fourth of the tournament, and Mendez completed the rout by converting his second penalty kick and fifth goal of the group stage.

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As determined at the tournament Draw in September, as winner of Group A the USA is matched with the winners of Group C and E in the Qualification Stage, forming Group G. Group H will consist of Panama (winner, Group D), El Salvador (winner, Group F), and the winner of Group B, which will be decided Saturday between Mexico or Jamaica. After another round robin, the top two from each group will qualify for the 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup and the winners will meet in the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship final on Nov. 21.

Up Next: The U-20 MNT will face Costa Rica on Friday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET and Honduras on Monday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. ET at IMG Academy Stadium in Bradenton, Fla. The matches can be watched live on Univision Deportes Network and the ConcacafGo app.Social: Twitter (@ussoccer_ynt;@ussoccer_esp);Facebook; Instagram

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Alex Mendez, 7th minute: The U.S. took the lead just seven minutes into the game. Griffin Dorsey was taken down some four yards outside the box, and Mendez stepped into the freekick, curling a left-footed shot over the wall and into the side net for his first of the night. USA 1, SUR 0

USA – Mark McKenzie (Alex Mendez), 26th minute: Another well-executed set piece resulted in the USA’s second goal. Paxton Pomykal took a short corner from the left side to Mendez, who advanced the ball to his favored left foot and sent in a dipping cross to the top of the six. An unmarked McKenzie met leaped and headed the ball over a defender and the goalkeeper for his third goal of the tournament. USA 2, SUR 0

USA – Ayo Akinola (Griffin Dorsey), 43th minute: A combination of passes from the back to the left side, back to the middle, set up Frankie Amaya to run toward the top of the box, bringing a defender on before springing Griffin Dorsey into the box. Dorsey pushed the ball back across to the back post, setting up Akinola for the easy tap-in. USA 3, SUR 0

USA – Ayo Akinola (Paxton Pomykal) 45+1 minute: The play started with a simple throw-in on the right side from Jaylin Lindsey to Dorsey, who gave the ball right back to Lindsey, allowing the right back to split two defenders with a pass to Pomykal. The FC Dallas forward sent a first-touch ball across the six, where Akinola beat his mark and scored his second of the night. USA 4, SUR 0

USA – Juan Pablo Torres (Justin Rennicks), 60th minute: Justin Rennicks notched his sixth assist of the tournament, entering the box from the right side and drawing two defenders before laying the ball back to the penalty spot, finding Juan Pablo Torres who calmly finished with his left down the middle. USA 5, SUR 0

USA – Justin Rennicks (Chris Gloster), 79th minute: Pomykal’s run towards goal allowed Chris Gloster space to approach the area, and the left back one-timed Pomykal’s simple touch to the top of the six where Rennicks beat his mark to deftly touch the ball past the goalkeeper. USA 6, SUR 0.

USA – Alex Mendez (penalty), 83rd minute: Substitute Manny Perez was brought down in the box for goalkeeper Rivaldo Soesman, and Alex Mendez blasted the penalty kick down under the crossbar right of center to finish the scoring for the night. USA 7, SUR 0. FINAL

NOTES:

• The USA is unbeaten in its last 10 Concacaf U-20 Championship matches.
• The USA is now 2-1-0 against Suriname at the U-20 level.
• With the result, U.S. head coach Tab Ramos moves to 17-3-2 all-time in Concacaf U-20 Championship play.
• Ramos made five changes from the side that defeated Trinidad & Tobago. McKenzie, Mendez, Akinola, Dorsey and Pomykal.
• Mark McKenzie captained the team today with regular captain Matt Real sitting on a yellow card.
• Pomykal and Rennicks appeared in their fifth match of the group stage.
• Brady Scott earned his second shutout and the team’s third of the tournament.
• The 39 goals in the group stage were scored by: Llanez (6), Akinola, Mendez (5), Fontana, Rennicks (4), McKenzie, Pomykal, Torres (3), Servania (2), Dorsey, Perez (1), own goals (2)

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

Match: U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team vs. Suriname
Date: November 9, 2018
Competition: 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship; Group A
Venue: IMG Academy; Bradenton, Fla.
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. ET
Attendance: TBC
Weather: 77 degrees; clear

Scoring Summary: 1   2   F
USA                         4   3   7
SUR                         0   0   0

USA – Alex Mendez                                        7^th minute
USA – Mark McKenzie (Alex Mendez)            26
USA – Ayo Akinola (Griffin Dorsey)                43
USA – Ayo Akinola (Paxton Pomykal)            45+1
USA – Juan Pablo Torres (Justin Rennicks)   60
USA – Justin Rennicks (Chris Gloster)           79
USA – Alex Mendez (penalty)                         83

Lineups:
USA: 1-Brady Scott; 2-Jaylin Lindsey, 4-Mark McKenzie (capt), 13-Griffin Dorsey (14-Manny Perez, 72), 3-Chris Gloster; 7-Juan Pablo Torres, 8-Alex Mendez, 19-Sam Rogers; 10-Paxton Pomykal, 17-Ayo Akinola (9-Justin Rennicks, 46), 20-Frankie Amaya (18-Isaac Angking, 83)
Subs not used: 12-David Ochoa, 5-Matt Real, 6-Brandon Servania, 11-Ulysses Llanez, 15-Anthony Fontana, 16-Julian Araujo
Head coach: Tab Ramos

SUR : 1-Rivaldo Soesman, 12-Urano Morris, 4-Isiah Helstone (10-Gleofilo Vlijter, 51), 3-Michiel Revales, 5-Doniel Wijdenbosch (16-Zerguinho Deira, 82); 14-Brian Elshot, 6-Abraham Graves, 18-Ayad Godlieb (17-Jamilhio Rigters, 46); 20-Rievaldo Doorson, 9-Alvaro Verwey (capt.), 8-Roscello Vlijter
Subs not used: 13-Damelcio Fer, 2-Mgwenze Vola, 7-Joshua Foe-aman, 11-Ferando Heopel, 15-Damian Brunswijk, 19-Shaquille Cairo
Head coach: Eugene Verwey

Stats Summary: USA / SUR
Shots: 28 / 3
Shots on Goal: 17 / 0
Saves: 0 / 10
Corner Kicks: 12 / 1
Fouls: 15 / 15
Offside: 2 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
SUR – Abraham Graves (caution)       33rd minute
SUR – Rievaldo Doorson (caution)      58
SUR – Rivaldo Soesman (caution)      82

Officials:
Referee: Ismael Cornejo (SLV)
Assistant Referee 1: David Moran (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: Caleb Wales (TRI)
Fourth Official: José Kellys (PAN)

ussoccer.com Man of the Match: Alex Mendez