The United States made it three wins from three on the FIFA Underneath-20 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Slovakia in San Juan, Argentina, on Friday to clinch high spot in Group B.
Ahead Cade Cowell was the star for the younger People, netting an outstanding solo purpose on 38 minutes that despatched them on the way in which to victory. Substitute Niko Tsakiris added a second deep into second-half stoppage time to make sure the U.S. would end the group stage with most factors and never a single purpose conceded.
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The U.S. was already assured a spot within the spherical of 16 after earlier wins over Ecuador and Fiji. Ecuador, on six factors, will be part of the U.S. within the spherical of 16, whereas Slovakia, with three factors, should wait to see if it qualifies as one of many 4 greatest third-placed groups.
The U.S. will now face top-of-the-line third-placed groups on Tuesday for a spot within the quarterfinals.
It’s San Jose Earthquakes star Cowell who will rightly take the plaudits from this newest win for Mikey Varas’ facet. The 19-year-old’s purpose confirmed why he has already been an everyday in MLS for 3 years and has been repeatedly linked with curiosity from golf equipment in Europe.
After intercepting a cross on midway, Cowell slalomed in and out a collection of Slovakia gamers at excessive velocity earlier than discovering the web with a low left-footed shot.
The purpose had been coming for the U.S. and for Cowell after twice going near breaking the impasse earlier than his memorable strike.
Cowell actually ought to have discovered the again of the web within the twenty seventh minute after attending to an extended ball ahead from defender Brandan Craig forward of Slovakia goalkeeper Adam Hrdina, lifting the ball over his head however utterly whiffing on his shot into an open web.
Eight minutes later, Cowell did have the ball within the web after racing onto a via ball and beating Hrdina just for the offside flag to right away be raised.
However Cowell wouldn’t be denied to place the U.S. forward on the interval.
That purpose may have been added to on a number of events within the second half as Cowell continued to trigger havoc within the Slovakia ranks. Twice Diego Luna was unable to benefit from Cowell’s set-up play, volleying over from shut vary after which hanging the put up with a side-footed effort from the middle of the field.
Cowell nearly had one other beautiful solo purpose, too, solely this time to be denied by the legs of Hrdina.
As a substitute, after Cowell departed early to deserved applause, it was his San Jose teammate Tsakiris who grabbed the second purpose with a intelligent end on the close to put up within the sixth minute of added time.