The U.S. U-20 Men's National Team have advanced to the Quarterfinals of the U-20 World Cup after tying a U.S. record with a 6-0 win over New Zealand o
The U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team have advanced to the Quarterfinals of the U-20 World Cup after tying a U.S. record with a 6-0 win over New Zealand on Thursday morning. Josh Sargent, Jeremy Ebobisse, Brooks Lennon, Justen Glad, Auston Trusty and Lagos Kunga each notched a goal in a game that was quite close at halftime.
The U.S. will face Venezuela in the Quarterfinals, which will take place on Saturday, June 3rd at 11:00 p.m. PT.
The first goal for the U.S. came in the 32nd minute when Justen Glad corralled a corner and fired a low shot through traffic. The ball deflected off Sargent and found its way into the back of the net. Sargent was credited with the goal, which brings his tournament total to four goals. Sargent is now tied with Taylor Twellman (1999), Eddie Johnson (2003) and Jozy Altidore (2007) for most goals scored by a U.S. player at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Sargent is tied with Venezuela’s Sergio Cordova for the tournament’s Golden Boot lead.
At the hour mark the U.S. started to pull away and it was Ebobisse who doubled the lead. Sargent headed the ball back to the top of the box. Ebobisse with a soft touch collected the ball, turned, and fired a rifle past the New Zealand goalkeeper. Moments after this, the U.S. pounced on New Zealnd when Eryk Williamson played a through ball to Lennon, who calmly slotted the ball in the far post.
After missing out on the opening goal, there was no doubt in the 76th minute when Glad’s powerful header on a corner found the back of the net. Trusty added a fifth goal in the 84th minute on a clever set piece . Sebastian Saucedo played a corner on the ground and Trusty, unmarked at the top of the box, ran to the spot and fired a screamer into the top post. The final goal was in the 93rd minute when San Diego’s Luca de la Torre played a clever ball to Kunga inside the box for a far post finish.
The 6-0 win ties the U.S.’s previous high when the U-20 MNT defeated Turkey in the 1993 U-20 World Cup in Australia.
