USA advances to U-17 World Cup Round of 16 despite loss to Colombia

NAVI MUMBAI, India (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team advanced to the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-17 World Cup as one of the tournament’s best third-place finishers in group play after a 3-1 loss to Colombia. The U.S. will face either Group B winner Paraguay or the Group C winner in the Round of 16 dependent on the results of the final group play matches.

The USA began the day atop Group A thanks to wins against World Cup host India (3-0) and eventual group winner Ghana (1-0), but slipped to third after Ghana beat India 4-0 and Colombia won the head-to-head tie-breaker with the U.S. after the two teams tied on points and goal differential.

After a slow start by the U.S. gifted Colombia an early lead in the third minute via a long throw-in and missed clearance, the young Americans found their grit and groove, getting stuck in on tackles and passing well in possession. As the game tilted towards the U.S., a moment of brilliance from Andrew Carleton, who beat two Colombia defenders one-on-one, set up George Acosta for the tying goal in the 24th minute.

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After the break, Colombia’s attack and constant pressure disrupted the U.S. offense and eventually turned the game in Los Cafeteros’ favor. Although U.S. goalkeeper Justin Garces made a handful of fine saves in the second stanza to keep the U.S. within sight of winning the group, there was little he could do to prevent Colombia’s go-ahead goal in the 67th minute – a sharp-angle free kick from Juan Peñaloza. Deiber Caicedo then provided the goal – combined with Ghana’s win against India – and the final 3-1 scoreline that pushed the U.S. into third place.

Up Next: The U.S. U-17 MNT will travel to play its Round of 16 match. Depending on results from other groups’ final matches, the USA could face Group B winner Paraguay on Oct. 16 in New Delhi (10:30 a.m.; FS2, telemundo.com) or the winner of Group C on Oct. 17 in Goa (7:30 a.m.; FOX Soccer Plus, Universo).

Goal Scoring Rundown:
COL – Juan Vidal, 3rd minute: A long throw-in from the right sideline into the U.S. box was headed on towards the goal. The U.S. defense failed to clear the danger and the ball fell to Juan Vidal, who tucked his close-range shot inside the right post past goalkeeper Justin Garces. USA 0, COL 1

USA – George Acosta (Andrew Carleton), 24th minute: Andrew Carleton did well to beat two Colombia defenders one-v-one and drive to the right end line before cutting a ball across the box behind an unmarked Acosta who was able to redirect his run to reach back and snap a low, one-time shot past Colombian ‘keeper Kevin Mier. USA 1, COL 1

COL – Juan Peñaloza, 67th minute: The U.S. gave away a free kick four yards from the left end line that Peñalozawasable to lift over the USA wall before it dipped beneath the crossbar into the far, upper right corner of the U.S. goal. USA 1, COL 2

USA – Deiber Caicedo (Juan Peñaloza), 87th minute: An attack down the USA’s left flank saw Peñaloza beat his man and rifle a low pass across the USA box that reached Caicedo on the back right post. Caicedo hit a one-time shot between Garces and the right post to provide the final margin. USA 1, COL 3 FINAL

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

Match: U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team vs. Colombia
Date: Oct. 12, 2017
Competition: FIFA U-17 World Cup – Group A
Venue: Dr. DY Patil Stadium; Navi Mumbai, India
Kickoff: 10:30 a.m. ET (8 p.m. local)
Attendance: 22,263
Weather: 82 degrees; Partly cloudy

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                          1 0 1
COL                          1 2 3

COL – Juan Vidal 3rd minute
USA – George Acosta (Andrew Carleton) 24
COL – Juan Penaloza (free kick) 67
COL – Deiber Caicedo (Juan Penaloza) 87

Lineups:
USA: 1-Justin Garces, 2-Jaylin Lindsey, 3-Chris Gloster, 4-James Sands, 6-Chris Durkin, 7-Ayo Akinola, 9-Josh Sargent (Capt.), 11-Andrew Carleton (19-Jacobo Reyes, 69), 13-Sergino Dest, 15-George Acosta (8-Blaine Ferri, 78), 20-Chris Goslin (10-Tim Weah, 87)
Subs Not Used: 5-Tyler Shaver, 12-CJ Dos Santos, 14-Akil Watts, 16-Taylor Booth, 17-Bryan Reynolds, 18-Indiana Vassilev, 21-Alex Budnik
Head Coach: John Hackworth

COL: 2-Andres Cifuentes, 3-Guillermo Tegue, 5-Thomas Gutierrez (Capt.), 6-Andres Perea, 7-Leandro Campaz (13-Robert Mejia, 46), 10-Brayan Gomez (14-Yadir Meneses, 56), 11-Juan Penaloza, 12-Kevin Mier, 17-Deiber Caicedo, 19-Juan Vidal, 20-Etilso Martinez
Subs Not Used: 1-Nicolas Gomez, 4-Christian Andrade, 8-Luis Lopez, 9-Santiago Barrero, 15-Gustavo Carvajal, 16-Fabian Angel, 18-Deyman Cortes, 21-Daniel Melo
Head Coach: Orlando Restrepo

Stats Summary: USA/COL
Shots: 8/10
Shots on Goal: 3/6
Saves: 3/2
Corner Kicks: 5/5
Fouls: 8/16
Offside: 2/1

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: Artur Dias (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Rui Barbosa (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Paulo Alexandre Santos Soares (POR)
Fourth Official: Anna-Marie Keighley (NZL)