USA defeats Haiti 4-1 in CONCACAF U-20 Championship group match

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team rode a strong second half performance and a hat trick from Brooks Lennon to a 4-1 victory against Haiti at the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. With the result, the U.S. sits second heading into Friday’s Group B finale vs. St. Kitts and Nevis.

The U-20 MNT went down early, surrendering a goal against the run of play when Kenley Dede expertly finished from inside the area in the 15th minute. The USA responded 13 minutes later when Jonathan Lewis drew a penalty kick, setting up Lennon’s first goal that sent the teams into the locker rooms knotted at 1-1.

The U.S. sought out the go-ahead goal early in the latter stanza and broke through in the 52nd minute when Luca de la Torre pounced on a loose ball in the box. A Haiti turnover on the left side led to Lennon’s second goal a minute later, when he cleanly finished from the right to give the USA a 3-1 lead. The Real Salt Lake attacker completed his hat trick when he followed up de la Torre’s effort from outside the area in the 58th minute.

Following Panama’s 4-0 win against St. Kitts and Nevis earlier Tuesday, the result pushes the U.S. into second place in Group B thanks to a +2 goal differential.

Up Next: The U-20 MNT closes out the group stage of the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship on Friday, Feb. 24 when they take on St. Kitts and Nevis. Kickoff from Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in Tibás, Costa Rica is set for 5:30 p.m. ET and the match can be seen live on UDN and the CONCACAF Facebook Page. The match follows the Panama-Haiti contest, which will dictate the result the USA needs against St. Kitts and Nevis in order to advance to the Classification Stage.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
HAI – Kenley Dede (Jonel Desire), 15th minute: Haiti caught the U.S. in transition as Alessandro Campoy played a quick ball up the right for Jonel Desire. The winger drove towards the end line before cutting in a cross that bounced in the box to Kenley Dede, who volleyed inside the right post.
USA 0, HAI 1 [WATCH]

USA – Brooks Lennon (penalty kick), 28th minute: The U.S. responded with sustained possession and broke through just before the half hour mark. Erik Palmer-Brown played a clever through ball for Jonathan Lewis who was chopped down by Stevenson Guillaume just as he entered the box. Referee Vladin Legister pointed to the spot, where Brooks Lennon stepped up and buried his penalty kick inside the lower left post. USA 1, HAI 1 [WATCH]

USA – Luca de la Torre, 52nd minute: The U.S. took the lead just after half time when Lennon’s corner kick from the left was palmed down by Haiti goalkeeper Isaac Rouaud. The ball fell for Luca de la Torre at the top of the area and he fired into the unoccupied net to push the U.S. ahead. USA 2, HAI 1 [WATCH]

USA – Brooks Lennon (Jeremy Ebobisse), 53rd minute: One minute later, Jonathan Lewis forced a turnover on the left and quickly centered for Jeremy Ebobisse just outside the area. The Portland Timbers attacker slid the ball into the path for Lennon who calmly slotted past Rouaud. USA 3, HAI 1 [WATCH]

USA – Brooks Lennon, 58th minute: Lennon grabbed his hat trick just before the hour mark when Ebobisse broke into the penalty area on the right before cutting back and sliding the ball to de la Torre just outside the area. The Fulham midfielder drove a blistering low effort that forced a diving stop out of Rouaud, but the rebound fell right for Lennon who followed up with his third tally of the match. USA 4, HAI 1 [WATCH] FINAL

Key Saves and Defensive Stops
USA – Justen Glad, 33rd minute : Jonel Desire ran on to a diagonal ball over the top and again cut inside, sending a low ball for Richelor Sprangers before Justen Glad swept through to clear the ball out for a corner kick.

HAI – Stevenson Guillaume, 51^st minute: The U.S. began looking for the go-ahead goal when Ebobisse’s trailing ball from the right found Lewis on the left side of the box. The New York City FC forward cut back for Lennon whose quick shot was denied by Guillaume who slid through to put the ball out for a corner kick.

USA – Jonathan Klinsmann, 76^th minute: Substitute striker Ronaldo Damus stayed active up top and received an early pass that led him into the area where he hit a left-footed bullet that saw Klinsmann stretch to his right, pushing the ball over the end line.

NOTES:

• With the result, Tab Ramos moves to 9-3-1 all-time in CONCACAF U-20 Championship play
• The USA U-20s moves to 4-0-0 all-time vs. Haiti in U-20 World Cup Qualifying

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

Match: U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team vs. Haiti
Date: Feb. 21, 2017
Competition: 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship – Group B
Venue: Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica; San Jose, Costa Rica
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. ET
Attendance: 170
Weather: 70 degrees; mostly cloudy

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                        1 3 4
HAI                          1 0 1

HAI – Kenley Dede (Jonel Desire)                  15th minute
USA – Brooks Lennon (penalty kick)              28
USA – Luca De La Torre                                52
USA – Brooks Lennon (Jeremy Ebobisse)       53
USA – Brooks Lennon                                   58

Lineups:
USA: 1-Jonathan Klinsmann; 2-Marlon Fossey, 4-Tommy Redding, 6-Justen Glad, 3-Danny Acosta; 10-Luca De La Torre, 5-Erik Palmer-Brown (Capt.) (16-Jeremiah Gutjahr, 68), 7-Eryk Williamson; 17-Brooks Lennon (19-Coy Craft, 81), 9-Jeremy Ebobisse, 20-Jonathan Lewis (11-Sebastian Saucedo, 71)
Subs not used: 12-JT Marcinkowski, 13-Auston Trusty, 14-Aaron Herrera, 15-Jonathan Gonzalez, 18-Emmanuel Sabbi
Head coach: Tab Ramos

HAI: 1-Isaac Rouaud; 19-Stevenson Guillaume, 5-Emerson Georges, 3-Odilon Jerome (Capt.), 13-Francy Pierre; 8-Jonel Desire, 14-Ivenet Noel (10-Roberto Badgio Louima, 61), 15-Alessandro Campoy, 6-Brian Chevreuil (4-Fardyson Pierre, 85), 11-Kenley Dede; 20-Richelor Sprangers (9-Ronaldo Damus, 61)
Subs not used: 12-Josue Duverger, 7-Jimmy Shammar Sanon, 16-Abraham Duverger, 18-Dutherson Clerveaux
Head coach: Wilfrid Montillas

Stats Summary: USA / HAI
Shots: 16 / 12
Shots on Goal: 6 / 3
Saves: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 4 / 4
Fouls: 21 / 23
Offside: 6 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
HAI – Emerson Georges (caution) 39th minute
HAI – Emerson Georges (caution) 82
HAI – Emerson Georges (sent off) 82
HAI – Fardyson Pierre (caution) 90+1

Officials:
Referee: Valdin Legister (JAM)
Assistant Referee 1: Richard Washington (JAM)
Assistant Referee 2: Joseph Bertrand (TRI)
4th Official: Oscar Reyna (GUA)

ussoccer.com Man of the Match: Brooks Lennon