USA extends perfect run at Concacaf U-20 Championship to 4 games

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BRADENTON, Fla. (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team continued its undefeated run at the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship with a 6-0 win against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at IMG Academy Stadium. The USA sits atop Group A with 12 points from four wins and will aim to qualify for the Classification Stage on Friday against Suriname.

The first half followed a familiar script with the U.S. dominating possession and shot generation 10-1 with one surprising exception, no goals were scored. Until tonight, the U.S. had scored within the opening 10 minutes of each of its three previous tournament matches but could carve out no such advantage this time around and not for lack of trying.

Although they were continually under pressure from the dynamic U.S. attack, Saint Vincent was able to escape conceding thanks to a fantastic performance from goalkeeper Jadiel Chance who made four saves in addition to making numerous pivotal interventions and getting some help from the woodwork and a few last-ditch goal mouth clearances from his defenders.

The U.S. broke its duck seconds into the second half when Juan Pablo Torres capped off a nice attacking sequence from his teammates, smashing a low shot from the top of the box inside the far-right post.

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If the opening strike didn’t dampen the effort from Saint Vincent, the USA’s second and third goals in the 59^th and 66^th minutes took the wind out of their sails. Leading U.S. scorer Ulysses Llanez bagged the second on a well-executed set piece straight from the training ground, while Anthony Fontana, who provided the assist on Llanez’s strike, blasted a rolling drive through traffic from just outside the box that deflected past substitute goalkeeper Jallando John, who came on for Chance in the final seconds of the first 45 after he sustained a knock to the head during a goal mouth scramble.

Fontana then added a pair in the final 10 minutes to collect the USA’s second hat trick of the tournament – Llanez tallied three against the U.S. Virgin Islands – and second half sub Brandon Servania chipped in a last-minute strike to cement the final 6-0 scoreline.

Wednesday’s other Group A matches saw Puerto Rico (2-2-0; 6 pts.) defeat U.S. Virgin Islands (0-4-0; 0 pts.) 8-0, while Suriname (3-1-0; 9 pts.) bested Trinidad & Tobago (2-2-0; 6 pts) 2-0 in a pivotal match that sets up a scintillating showdown against the United States (4-0-0; 12 pts) in the teams’ final Group A game.

Up Next: The U-20 MNT plays its final Group A match of the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship on Friday, Nov. 9 against Suriname. The U.S. needs a win or draw to ensure advancement to the Classification Stage but could still advance with a loss thanks to a vastly superior goal difference (+28 to Suriname’s +13). Kickoff from IMG Academy Stadium in Bradenton, Fla., is set for 5:30 p.m. ET and can be seen live on UDN and theConcacafGo app.Social: Twitter (@ussoccer_ynt;@ussoccer_esp);Facebook; Instagram

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Juan Pablo Torres, 46th minute: The U.S. opened the scoring with the opening minute of the second half as a well-worked attack down the left wing resulted in a Saint Vincent defender tackling the ball away from Ulysses Llanez in the box. But, the loose ball rolled to Torres, who was stationed just outside the box and he guided a low strike inside the far right post. USA 1, VIN 0

USA – Ulysses Llanez (Anthony Fontana), 59th minute: Just like they drew it up in training, the U.S. executed a smart set piece from 25 yards out. Instead of shooting, Frankie Amaya passed to Fontana who was station just outside the penalty arc and he stabbed a one-time pass into the path of Llanez who had hidden behind the Saint Vincent wall. Llanez cooly picked out the right side netting from point blank range. USA 2, VIN 0

USA – Anthony Fontana (Isaac Angking), 66th minute: This time the USA attacked down the right side with Angking cushioning a hard pass for the on-rushing Fontana to strike from the top of the box. The shot through traffic deflected off a defender and past the goalkeeper into the bottom left corner. USA 3, VIN 0

USA – Anthony Fontana, 81st minute: A nice run from Ayo Akinola gave the speedy U.S. attacker space to cross the ball in from the right wing. When Saint Vincent goalkeeper Jellando John came to collect the ball in the six-yard box, he fumbled it and Fontana was on hand to one-time the loose ball on goal where it was nearly cleared by a defender but still wound up in the back of the net. USA 4, VIN 0

USA – Anthony Fontana (penalty kick), 86th minute: A handball was called on Saint Vincent in its own box and Fontana was given the chance to complete his hat trick opportunity. He duly obliged but not without a little extra work as John saved his initial attempt, diving down to the right corner. The rebound came right out to Fontana, who tapped it in the left side of the vacated net. USA 5, VIN 0

USA – Brandon Servania (Juan Pablo Torres), 90th minute: A final attack from the U.S. saw Servania try his luck from distance. His shot was hit well and headed toward the top left corner until John attempted to punch the ball clear. He mis hit the ball however and it fell behind him into the left side of the goal. USA 6, VIN 0 FINAL.

NOTES:

• The USA is unbeaten in its last nine Concacaf U-20 Championship matches.
• This was the first meeting between the USA and Saint Vincent at the U-20 level.
• Ulysses Llanez 59th minute goal keeps him tied atop the tournament’s Golden Boot standings with six.
• Llanez has scored in all four games for the USA so far.
• With the result, U.S. head coach Tab Ramos moves to 16-3-2 all-time in Concacaf U-20 Championship play.
• Ramos made seven changes from the side that defeated Trinidad & Tobago. Scott, Gloster, Rennicks and Llanez are the four returning starters from that match.
• Jaylin Lindsey, who started the opening match at right back, slotted into center back alongside Sam Rogers.
• Juan Pablo Torres captained the team today with regular captain Matt Real given a break after playing the full 90 in each of the USA’s first three games.
• Angking, Llanez and Rennicks are playing in their fourth match. Available subs Matt Real, Alex Mendez, Paxton Pomykal, Ayo Akinola and Griffin Dorsey have played three.
• 19 of the 20 players have started at least two of the first four matches. Akinola, Angking, Llanez, Pomykal and Rennicks have appeared in all four matches.

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

Match: U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team vs. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Date: November 7, 2018
Competition: 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship; Group A
Venue: IMG Soccer Stadium; Bradenton, Fla.
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Attendance: 130
Weather: 75 degrees; partly cloudy

Scoring Summary: 1  2  F
USA                          0  6  6
VIN                            0  0  0

USA – Juan Pablo Torres                                 46th minute
USA – Ulysses Llanez (Anthony Fontana)        59
USA – Anthony Fontana (Isaac Angking)          66
USA – Anthony Fontana                                    81
USA – Anthony Fontana                                    86
USA – Brandon Servania (Juan Pablo Torres)  90

Lineups:
USA: 1-Brady Scott; 3-Chris Gloster, 19-Sam Rogers, 2-Jaylin Lindsey, 14-Manny Perez, 15-Anthony Fontana, 7-Juan Pablo Torres (capt.), 20-Frankie Amaya, 18-Isaac Angking (17-Ayo Akinola,68), 9-Justin Rennicks (10-Paxton Pomykal, 77), 11-Ulysses Llanez (6-Brandon Servania, 77)
Subs not used: 12-David Ochoa, 4-Mark McKenzie, 5-Matt Real, 8-Alex Mendez, 13-Griffin Dorsey, 16-Julian Araujo
Head coach: Tab Ramos

VIN : 1-Jadiel Chance (13-Jellando John, 45+3); 4-Lesron Craigg, 3-Dondre Charles, 14-Kenyon Delpesche, 2-Jay-Z Ryan (15-Dexran Wilson, 58); 16-Diel Spring, 6-Joel Quashie (capt.); 20-Brandon Johnson, 10-Gidson Francis, 17-Trivis Fraser; 9-Romano Johnson (8-Derron Hamblet, 67)
Subs not used: 5-Javal Samuel, 7-Osei Thompson, 11-Carlos Solomon, 12-Alpheus Medica, 18-Danny Spencer, 19-Trezine Da Souza
Head coach: Wade Jackson

Stats Summary: USA / VIN
Shots: 22 / 2
Shots on Goal: 12 / 1
Saves: 1 / 6
Corner Kicks: 13 / 1
Fouls: 10 / 16
Offside: 4 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
VIN – Brandon Johnson (caution)    75^th minute
USA – Ayo Akinola (caution)            80

Officials:
Referee: Pierre-luc Lauziere (CAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicholas Anderson (JAM)
Assistant Referee 2: Wilson Tilus (HAI)
Fourth Official: Damien Rosa (FRA)

ussoccer.com Man of the Match: Anthony Fontana