USA battles Canada to 2-2 draw in Concacaf U-20 Championship group play
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – The U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team battled Canada to a 2-2 draw in its second Group E match at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship.
Despite dominating for long stretches of the game against Canada’s low block, the U.S. had to come from behind twice to earn a point on the evening, first on a rocket from midfielder Jack McGlynn in the 53rd and again on a hard-hit shot from forward Cade Cowell in the 72nd.
With the draw, the USA clinches a top-three finish in Group E and a berth in the knockout stage of the competition. The U.S. will face Cuba on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET; TUDN and Concacaf App, Facebook & YouTube) for first place in the group and a Round of 16 match-up against Nicaragua.
? ▶️ Take a look at the highlights of today's thrilling match between @CanadaSoccerEN and @USYNT! ?? ??#CU20 pic.twitter.com/bTcHotNCtm
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) June 21, 2022
CONCACAF U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP – GROUP E STANDINGS
| W | L | D | GD | Pts. | |
| Cuba | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
| USA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 |
| Canada | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | 0 | 2 | 0 | -16 | 0 |
The U.S. got off on the front foot from the opening whistle, out-possessing Canada 72 percent to 28 percent and out-shooting its opponent 22-6 on the night. A number of good looks came in the game’s early-going as forward Quinn Sullivan had an attempt saved in the fourth and McGlynn had a shot stopped in the 10th, while the U.S. also threatened on corner kicks and forward Paxten Aaronson also made a number of threatening runs.
But it was Canada who got on the board first, getting the ball up to forward Lowell Wright against the run of play. The Canadian striker maneuvered through the U.S. defense to slip a soft shot past goalkeeper Chris Brady in the 15th. The U.S. kept pressing forward after the goal and earned a number of dangerous free kick opportunities in Canadian territory, but the USA couldn’t find the back of the net.
The breakthrough finally came after the break in the 52nd minute. Following a corner kick, midfielder Diego Luna played to McGlynn beyond the top of the box and the Philadelphia Union midfielder drilled his first U-20 international goal to equalize for the U.S.
While the USA pushed for a winner, Canada moved the ball downfield quickly to retake the lead in the 69th. On a cross into the box, an attempted U.S. clearance bounced past Brady for the Reds’ second goal. This time, the USA answered quickly, drawing even just three minutes later on another stellar goal. Luna played Cowell on the run down the left wing, and the forward drove through the defense before ripping a shot to the right side of the net.
It seemed like a winner was within reach for the hard-charging U.S. U-20s, but they weren’t able to convert any of a number of chances down the stretch. After a nice dribble through the Canada defense, Luna had a shot stopped in the 86th and another dangerous free kick, this time from Brandan Craig, went wide in the opening minutes of second half stoppage time.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
CAN – Lowell Wright, 15th minute: Canada forward Gabriel Carmine Pellegrino took a sliding touch to keep the ball away from the U.S. defense and play up to fellow forward Lowell Wright. He pushed through a cluster of defenders before slipping a shot from the top of the six to the left side of the net. USA goalkeeper Chris Brady wasn’t able to make the save as the ball rolled into the bottom left corner. USA 0, CAN 1
USA – Jack McGlynn (Diego Luna), 53rd minute: Midfielder Diego Luna sent the ball from the right edge of the penalty box to McGlynn, standing 20 yards out on the right side of the box. The midfielder took a touch and then rocketed a shot with his left foot into the top right corner of the net past the outstretched Canada goalkeeper. USA 1, CAN 1
CAN – Own Goal (Michael Halliday), 69th minute: Midfielder Matthew Catavolo sent a service into the box from the right side to a crowd in front of the net. Sandwiched by two Canada players, Halliday leapt to make a clearance but his header went towards goal and while Brady got a hand on it, wasn’t able to make the save. USA 1, CAN 2
USA – Cade Cowell, 72nd minute: Luna played Cade Cowell on the run down the left side as he cut behind the Canadian defense. The forward dribbled down the wing and around two defenders before firing a shot from 12 yards out to the right side of the net. USA 2, CAN 2
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- The USA is now 5-2-3 vs. Canada at the Concacaf U-20 Championship.
- Head coach Mikey Varas made eight changes from the line-up that kicked off the tournament vs. St. Kitts and Nevis on Saturday, June 18. Defenders Mauricio Cuevas and Marcus Ferkranus plus forward Cade Cowell were the only players to start both matches.
- Eight players have now scored for the U.S. at the tournament: Paxten Aaronson, Cowell, Niko Tsakiris (two goals each), Caden Clark, Cuevas, Jack McGlynn, Rokas Pukstas and Tyler Wolff.
- Three players have registered an assist for the U.S.: Diego Luna (three), Quinn Sullivan (two) and Clark.
-U.S. UNDER-20 MEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team vs. Canada
Date: June 20, 2022
Competition: 2022 Concacaf Under-20 Championship
Venue: Estadio Nacional; Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Attendance:
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. local
Weather: 69 degrees, rainy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 2 2
CAN 1 1 2
CAN – Lowell Wright 15th minute
USA – Jack McGlynn (Diego Luna) 53
CAN – Own Goal (Michael Halliday) 69
USA – Cade Cowell (Diego Luna) 72
Lineups:
USA: 1-Chris Brady; 13-Michael Halliday, 4-Marcus Ferkranus, 5- Brandan Craig, 2-Mauricio Cuevas; 6-Daniel Edelman (Capt.), 8-Jack McGlynn (20-Rokas Pukstas, 85), 15-Diego Luna; 7-Quinn Sullivan (11-Caden Clark, 66), 10-Paxten Aaronson (16-Tyler Wolff, 73), 9-Cade Cowell
Substitutes Not Used: 12-Antonio Carrera, 3-Noah Allen, 14-Jalen Neal, 17-Niko Tsakiris, 19-Alejandro Alvarado Jr.
Head Coach: Mikey Varas
CAN: 1-Ben Alexander, 3-Kwasi Poku (12-Jefferson Alphonse, 85), 4-Justin Smith (Capt.) (16-Mael Henry, 81), 5-Jamie Knight-lebel, 8-Rida Zouhir, 9-Lowell Wright (7-Jean-Aniel Assi, 46), 11-Kamron Habibullah (20-Hugo Mbongue, 59) 13-Kobe Franklin, 14-Gabriel Pellegrino (10-Matthew Catavolo, 60), 15-Keesean Ferdinand
Substitutes Not Used: 18-Dino Bontis, 2-Noah Abatneh, 17-Jesse Costa, 19-Tiago Coimbra
Head Coach: Mauro Biello
Stats Summary: USA / CAN
Shots: 22 / 6
Shots on Goal: 10 / 3
Saves: 1 / 8
Corner Kicks: 6 / 1
Fouls: 14 / 7
Offside: 0 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Diego Luna (Caution) 28th minute
CAN – Mael Henry (Caution) 90
Officials:
Referee: Marco Ortiz (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Enedina Caudillo (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Shirley Perello (HON)
4th Official: Said Martinez (HON)
VAR: Melissa Borjas Pasitrana (HON)
AVAR1: Fernando Guerrero (MEX)
