USA eliminated from FIFA U-17 World Cup with 4-1 loss to England

GOA, India (Via U.S. Soccer) – The impressive run by U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup came to an end in the Quarterfinal after a 4-1 loss to 2017 UEFA U-17 runners-up England. Josh Sargent’s strike gave the USA hope late in the game and also tied him with Freddy Adu as the USA’s leading all-time scorer in youth World Cups with seven goals.

A quick-fire brace from England’s Rhian Brewster midway through the first half gave the USA a mountain to climb, and the U.S. didn’t shy away from the challenge. Led by Sargent, Tim Weah and Ayo Akinola up top, the USA went about carving out numerous opportunities to get back in the game either through possession or, more often, in transition, where the team’s lightning quick counters gave the England defense all it could handle.

Despite going toe-to-toe with the Three Lions, the U.S. had trouble finding the finishing touch and fell further behind in the 64th minute when Morgan Gibbs-White scored. Eight minutes later, Sargent scored at the back post after good pressure from the USA resulted in Sergiño Dest’s shot being parried across the face of goal by England goalkeeper, Curtis Anderson, who did well to stop numerous U.S. attacks throughout the match.

Dest was unfortunately involved in the game’s final goal in injury time as well, giving away a penalty kick in the 95th minute that Brewster dispatched past Justin Garces, who had kept the U.S. within striking distance throughout the game with a number of fine saves, sealing a trick and providing the final 4-1 margin.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
ENG – Rhian Brewster, 11th minute: England’s Philip Foden got around his marker and sent a cross into the USA six-yard box. Goalkeeper Justin Garces was on hand to punch the ball away but it went straight to Brewster, who was trailing the play, and he sent a one-time volley into the roof of the net. USA 0, ENG 1

ENG – Rhian Brewster (Philip Foden), 14th minute: England capitalized on a transition opportunity after gaining control of the ball at midfield. Rushing upfield, Foden combined with Brewster again, sliding a pass behind the U.S. defense for the striker to run on to. Garces charged out of the U.S. net, but Brewster arrived just in time to lift the ball over him into the right side netting. USA 0, ENG 2

ENG – Morgan Gibbs-White (Rhian Brewster), 64th minute: Another transition opportunity for England was capped off by Gibbs-White as Brewster turned provider, finding his countryman in stride just above the U.S. box. Garces did well to try and cut down the angle, getting a hand to Gibbs-White’s shot but, it wasn’t enough to keep it out of the lower, left-hand corner. USA 0, ENG 3

USA – Josh Sargent, 72nd minute: A long spell of U.S. pressure eventually saw the ball played into the left side of the England penalty area for speedy U.S. substitute Sergiño Dest to chase. Beating his man to the ball, Dest put a shot on target from a wide angle that England ‘keeper Curtis Anderson could only parry across the face of goal where a crashing Josh Sargent tapped it home at the back right post. USA 1, ENG 3

ENG – Rhian Brewster (penalty kick), 95th minute: With time winding down and the U.S. still fighting to tie the match, Dest committed a foul in his own penalty area, drawing a straight red from the referee and handing England a penalty kick. Brewster stepped to the spot and put it home to finish the match. USA 1, ENG 4 FINAL

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

Match: U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team vs. England
Date: Oct. 21, 2017
Competition: FIFA U-17 World Cup – Quarterfinal
Venue: Pandit Nehru Stadium; Goa, India
Kickoff: 10:30 a.m. ET (8 p.m. local)
Attendance: 16,148
Weather: 81 degrees; Partly cloudy

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                         0 1 1
ENG                         2 2 4

ENG – Rhian Brewster                                          11th minute
ENG – Rhian Brewster (Philip Foden)                   14
ENG – Morgan Gibbs-White (Rhian Brewster)      64
USA – Josh Sargent                                              72
ENG – Rhian Brewseter (penalty kick)                  90+5

Lineups:
USA: 1-Justin Garces; 14-Akil Watts (17-Bryan Reynolds, 81), 6-Chris Durkin, 4-James Sands, 3-Chris Gloster; 11-Andrew Carleton, 8-Blaine Ferri (18-Indiana Vassilev, 73), 16-Taylor Booth (13-Sergino Dest, 55); 7-Ayo Akinola, 9-Josh Sargent (Capt.), 10-Tim Weah
Subs Not Used: 2-Jaylin Lindsey, 5-Tyler Shaver, 12-CJ Dos Santos, 15-George Acosta, 19-Jacobo Reyes, 21-Alex Budnik
Unavailable: 20-Chris Goslin
Head Coach: John Hackworth

ENG: 1-Curtis Anderson; 4-George McEachran, 5-Marc Guéhi, 6-Jonathan Panzo, 7-Philip Foden (12-Nya Kirby, 85), 8-Tashan Oakley-Boothe, 9-Rhian Brewster, 14-Callum Hudson-Odoi (16-Daniel Loader, 90+1), 15-Joel Latibeaudiere (Capt.), 18-Steve Sessegnon, 19-Morgan Gibbs-White (20-Conor Gallagher, 78)
Subs Not Used: 13-Josef Bursik, 21-William Crellin, 2-Tim Eyoma, 3-Lewis Gibson, 10-Angel Gomes, 17-Emile Smith-Rowe 
Head Coach: Steve Cooper

Stats Summary: USA/ENG
Shots: 20/20
Shots on Goal: 4/12
Saves: 8/3
Corner Kicks: 8/10
Fouls: 19/7
Offside: 0/1

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Taylor Booth (caution)                35th minute
ENG – Conor Gallagher (caution)          78
USA – Sergino Dest (sent off)                90+5

Officials:
Referee: Turpin Clement (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Danos Nicolas (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Gringore Cyril (FRA)
Fourth Official: Shukralla Nawat (BHR)