USA qualifies for FIFA U-17 World Cup with 6-2 vs Cuba

PANAMA CITY, Panama (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team qualified for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup as well as the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship final with a 6-2 win against Cuba in the teams’ final match of the classification stage.

Three goals in each half highlighted by the first tournament tallies for Indiana Vassilev, Andrew Carleton and Bryan Reynolds paced the U.S. attack, which dominated much of the game. A Cuba own goal by Miguel Coll and second-half strikes from Zyen Jones and Tim Weah – each player’s second of the competition – rounded out the USA’s offensive barrage.

Cuba kept the match interesting by converting one of its few chances through Brian Savigne’s bullish run through the U.S. defense to tie the match at 1-1 midway through the first half and an unfortunate own goal from the USA’s Arturo Vazquez early in the second half that brought Cuba within striking distance at 3-2 in the 47^th minute.

An impressive performance from Cuba goalkeeper Danny Echeverria also contributed to Cuba’s fight to stay in the match as he twice denied U.S. leading goal scorer Josh Sargent – once from the penalty spot – as well as a host of other players but was unable to stymie the Americans’ relentless attack.

With the win, the USA finished atop Group D. The team will face the winner of the Group E finale between Costa Rica and Mexico in the tournament title match.

Up Next: The U-17 MNT heads to the title game of the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship on Sunday, May 5 against either Costa Rica or Mexico. Kickoff from Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City is set for 4 p.m. ET, and the match can be seen live on UDN and the CONCACAF YouTube channel.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Indiana Vassilev, 15th minute: Josh Sargent won a free kick with a surging run toward the Cuba penalty area. After the U.S. captain was brought down 20 yards from goal, Indiana Vassilev stepped up to whip a left-footed free kick through the top of the Cuba wall while the goalkeeper shuffled toward the right post and the ball nestled into the opposite corner. USA 1, CUB 0 [WATCH]

CUB – Brian Savigne (Antuan Obregon), 19h minute: Obregon intercepted a U.S. back pass near midfield and dashed away down the right flank. As he neared the U.S. box, Obregon centered the ball for Savigne whose touch took him past his marker and into the area where he snapped a low shot between a defender’s legs and past charging U.S. goalkeeper Justin Garces into the far left side netting. USA 1, CUB 1 [WATCH]

USA – Miguel Coll (own goal), 37th minute: The U.S. broke down the right-center of the Cuba defensive third and found Akinola near the top of the Cuba box. His through ball for Sargent was too far in front of the U.S. forward, but hit Cuba defender Miguel Coll in stride. Coll inadvertently redirected his attempted clearance into the back of his own net. USA 2, CUB 1 [WATCH]

USA – Andrew Carleton (Ayo Akinola) 39th minute: After repelling a Cuba foray, the U.S. broke into the Cuba half via three quick passes that sent Akinola and Carleton away in a 3v2 where Akinola slipped Carleton in behind the Cuba back line, who spotted Danny Echeverria off his line. Carleton measured a fine chip over the ‘keeper that fell neatly below the crossbar into the back of the net. USA 3, CUB 1 [WATCH]

CUB – Arturo Vasquez (own goal), 47th minute: From a Cuba corner kick, the ball was flicked on at the near post by Obregon into the center of the six-yard box. In an attempt to clear the cross and with a defender on his back, Vasquez mishit the ball off his shin and into the roof of the U.S. goal. USA 3, CUB 2 [WATCH]

USA – Zyen Jones (Tim Weah), 49th minute: An intricate passing sequence advanced the USA up the right flank, eventually ending at the feet of Weah outside the penalty area where he whipped a low feed across the face of goal that Jones one-timed over the Cuba goalkeeper at the back left post. USA 4, CUB 2 [WATCH]

USA – Bryan Reynolds, 83rd minute: A free kick opportunity near Cuba’s left corner flag led to the USA sending multiple shots on goal. The last from Tim Weah was parried by Echeverria into the path of Reynolds near the back left post, and the substitute forward made no mistake, rifling a low shot inside the near post. USA 5, CUB 2 [WATCH]

USA – Tim Weah (George Acosta), 88th minute: Another break up the right wing led to the USA’s final goal as Acosta played Weah into the box. Luckily, Weah’s first touch popped the ball up in the air behind him, allowing him to shield off his defender and get a touch to keep it away from the charging ‘keeper before curling a shot past a Cuba defender and across goal into the far left side netting. USA 6, CUB 2 [WATCH] FINAL

NOTES:

• With the result, John Hackworth moves to 10-1-1 all-time in U-17 World Cup Qualifying matches.
• The USA holds a commanding 7-2-0 record vs. Cuba in CONCACAF qualifying matches for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, having won the last four meetings.

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

Match: U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team vs. Cuba
Date: May 5, 2017
Competition: 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship – Classification Stage
Venue: Estadio Maracaná de Panamá; Panamá City, Panamá
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. CT
Weather: 79 degrees; mostly cloudy

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F
USA                             3          3          6
CUB                            1          1          2

USA – Indiana Vassilev                                  15th minute
CUB – Brian Savigne                                      19
USA – Miguel Coll (own goal)                         37
USA – Andrew Carleton (Ayo Akinola)           39
CUB – AJ Vasquez (own goal)                       47
USA – Zyen Jones (Tim Weah)                     49
USA – Bryan Reynolds                                   84
USA – Tim Weah (George Acosta)                 88

Lineups:
USA: 1-Justin Garces; 13-Akil Watts, 5-A.J. Vasquez, 2-Jaylin Lindsey, 3-Chris Gloster; 18-Indiana Vassilev, 16-Taylor Booth, 10-George Acosta; 11-Andrew Carleton (15-Zyen Jones, 46), 9-Josh Sargent (capt.) (19-Tim Weah, 46), 7-Ayo Akinola (17-Bryan Reynolds, 62)
Subs not used: 4-James Sands, 6-Chris Durkin, 8-Blaine Ferri, 12-C.J. Dos Santos, 14-Chris Goslin, 20-Adrian Villegas
Head coach: John Hackworth

CUB: 1-Danny Echeverria; 17-Pedro Piñeiro, 3-Miguel Coll, 15-Karel Espino, 13-Bruno Rendón; 11-Ronaldo Rosette, 14-Carlos Ibarra (2-Cristhian Turca, 46), 8-Carlos Molina, 4-Roy López (6-Jhan Marco Rodríguez, 67); 10-Brian Savigne (capt.), 19-Manuel Cruz
Subs not used: 5-Dayron López, 7-Ribaldo Roldán, 9-Yandry Romero; 12-Antuan Obregón; 18-Josúe Vega; 20-Arturo Héctor Godoy
Not available: 16-Omar Pérez
Head coach: Rufino Sotolongo

Stats Summary: USA / CUB
Shots: 23 / 4
Shots on Goal: 14 / 2
Saves: 0 / 8
Corner Kicks: 4 / 1
Fouls: 11 / 18
Offside: 0 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
CUB – Karel Espino (caution)                         7th minute
CUB – Pedro Piñeiro (caution)                       57

Officials:
Referee: Daneion Parchment (JAM)
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel AKE (BLZ)
Assistant Referee 2: Alejandro Camarena (PAN)
4th Official: Juan Gabriel Calderon (CRC)

ussoccer.com Man of the Match: Andrew Carleton