USA earns 3-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago in Concacaf U-17 Championship group play

ANTIGUA, Guatemala – The U.S. Under-17 Men’s Youth National Team defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3-1 in its second match at the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship.

Forward Micah Burton, midfielder Paulo Rudisill and midfielder Taha Habroune scored first-half goals for the U.S. in another strong performance as head coach Gonzalo Segares heavily rotated the starting XI from the tournament opener, making eight changes.

With the win, the USA clinches a top-three finish in Group F and a berth in the knockout stage of the competition. Following the first two matchdays, the USA sits atop the group with six points and a +7 goal differential. Canada topped Barbados 2-0 in the first game of the day.

The U.S. next faces Canada on Wednesday, Feb. 15 (8 p.m. ET; FS1, ViX+).

? All the action of the @USYNT ?? victory in #CU17C is here! ?

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— Concacaf (@Concacaf) February 14, 2023

While the U-17 MYNT heavily rotated its line-up from Saturday’s match vs. Barbados, the U.S. was similarly in control offensively facing another low block. On the evening, the USA out-shot Trinidad 32 to seven and out-possessed the Soca Warriors 75 percent to 25.

Trinidad did well to defend most of the USA’s 12 corner kicks, but the U.S. attack was relentless in winning back Trinidadian clearances and playing it back in. Following an attempted clear in the 11th minute, the U.S. found Habroune driving down the right side and the midfielder hit a hard rolling cross to Burton to tap in the game’s opening goal.

The second came again from close range just three minutes later. This time, it was left back Sawyer Jura tearing towards the end line before playing to Rudisill just inside the six, where he one-timed it home to give the Americans a 2-0 advantage.

Trinidad goalkeeper Ailan Panton was kept plenty busy on the evening, making six saves, while the U.S. also fired several long-range shots wide. The U-17s were patient in its possession throughout the night, and their methodical build-up created another goal midway through the half. U.S. right back Aiden Harangi and Rudisill created danger all evening on the right side and in the 24^th, Harangi found Rudisill driving down the wing, where he sent in a cross for Habroune. The midfielder coolly finished from six yards out for his second international goal in as many appearances.

Trinidad showed a bit more bite in the second half, forcing goalkeeper Adam Beaudry to make his first save in the 69th minute. The Soca Warriors got on the board in the 78^th, as Derrel Garcia rocketed a volley from the top of the 18. Beaudry made an impressive save in the 81st to maintain the USA’s two-goal lead, diving to stop another well-hit shot from Garcia.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

USA – Micah Burton (Taha Habroune), 11th minute: After Trinidad attempted to clear a corner kick, the U.S. won it back and played it into the box for Habroune on the right side. The midfielder scooted around a defender and hit a hard-rolling cross through the Trinidadian defense to Burton near the middle of the six-yard line, where he tapped it into the left side of the net. USA 1, TRI 0

USA – Paulo Rudisill (Sawyer Jura), 14th minute: Working down the left wing, David Vazquez played to Jura running into the box. The left back took a touch as he drove towards the end line before sending it across goal and past the diving Trinidadian goalkeeper to Rudisill just inside the six. He one-timed it to the left side of the net for his first goal of the tournament. USA 2, TRI 0

USA – Taha Habroune (Paulo Rudisill), 24th minute: Right back Aiden Harangi played to Rudisill on the run down the right side. As he dribbled past the 18, he played a cross through the defense to Habroune waiting at the middle of the six, where he took a touch and hit it around the ‘keeper for the USA’s third and final goal of the evening. USA 3, TRI 0

TRI – Derrel Garcia (Malachi Webb), 78th minute: On the left side of the box, Webb dribbled towards the end line before sending a bouncing cross to Garcia near the middle of the 18. The midfielder volleyed the ball off the bounce to the left side of the net past the diving U.S. ‘keeper to pull one back for the Soca Warriors. USA 3, TRI 1

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• The USA improves to 5-1-3 vs. Trinidad and Tobago all-time at the Concacaf U-17 Championship.

• Midfielder Chris Aquino earned his first U-17 cap with his start tonight. All 20 players on the tournament roster have now been capped at the U-17 level.

• Head coach Gonzalo Segares made eight changes to the starting XI that opened the tournament vs. Barbados: goalkeeper Adam Beaudry, defenders Christian Diaz, Aiden Harangi and Sawyer Jura, midfielders Aquino, Taha Habroune and Pedro Soma, plus forward David Vazquez all earned their first starts of the tourney.

• Five players have now scored for the U.S. at CU17C: Cruz Medina (three goals), Habroune (two), Micah Burton, Keyrol Figueroa and Paulo Rudisill.

-U.S. UNDER-17 MEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: United States Under-17 Men’s Youth National Team vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Date: Feb. 13, 2023
Competition: 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship – Group Stage
Venue: Estadio Pensativo; Antigua, Guatemala
Attendance: 260
Kickoff: 7 p.m. local (8 p.m. ET)
Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy

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

USA – Micah Burton (Taha Habroune)              11th minute
USA – Paulo Rudisill (Sawyer Jura)                  14
USA – Taha Habroune (Paulo Rudisill)              24
TRI – Derrel Garcia (Malachi Webb)                  78

Lineups:

USA:12-Adam Beaudry; 13-Aiden Harangi (16-Adrian Gill, 79), 15-Christian Diaz, 5-Stuart Hawkins, 3-Sawyer Jura; 8-Pedro Soma (Capt.), 14-Taqha Habroune, 20-Chris Aquino, 19-Paulo Rudisill (17-Keyrol Figueroa, 59), 9-Micah Burton (10-Cruz Medina, 84), 11-David Vazquez (18-Ezekiel Soto, 59)

Substitutes not used: 1-Duran Ferree, Oscar Verhoeven, 4-Tyler Hall, 7-Brian Romero
Head coach: Gonzalo Segares

TRI:1-Allan Panton, 3-Joshua Figaro, 4-Lyshaun Morris, 5-Samuel Duncan (16-Jeremiah Niles, 78), 6-Aydon Caruth, 8-Josiah Ochoa (Capt.), 9-Lindell Sween, 10-Michael Chaves (17-Malachi Webb, 78), 11-Derrel Garcia, 14-Tau Lamsee (12-Jeremiah Cateau, 46), 19-Tyrell Moore

Substitutes not used: 20-Jaden Ottley, 12-Jeremiah Cateau, 13-Vaughn Clement, 18-Dominic Wilson
Ineligible: 7-Rio Cardines, 15-Armani Rowe,

Head coach: Shawn Cooper

Stats Summary: USA / TRI
Shots: 32 / 7
Shots on Goal: 9 / 3
Saves: 2 / 6
Corner Kicks: 12 / 2
Fouls: 5 / 9
Offside: 2 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
TRI – Derrel Garcia (Caution)                 4th minute
TRI – Jeremiah Niles (Caution)              86

Officials:
Referee: Victor Caceres (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Ordonez (GUA)
Assistant Referee 2: Cristian Alvarado (GUA)
Fourth Official: Jose Ignacio Fuentes (GUA)