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USA thumps Cameroon, 4-1, in Under-20 World Cup

Dilly Duka (ISIphotos.com)

                                                                            Photo by ISIphotos.com

The U.S. Under-20 national team needed a positive result in its match against Cameroon to keep alive its hopes of reaching the second round of the Under-20 World Cup. The result the Americans earned was far more than just positive. It was emphatic.

The U.S. team overcame a sluggish start to open the scoring late in the first half, before coming out in the second half and adding a second goal just a minute after the interval. Cameroon dominated possession and created chances, but the United States held firm and added two more goals to come away with a 4-1 rout in Egypt on Tuesday (video highlights after the jump).

The victory moved the United States into second place in its group, ahead of Cameroon on goal differential. Germany tied South Korea, 1-1, in the group's other match.

Bryan Arguez opened the scoring for the Americans on a feed from Tony Taylor, who added his own goal at the start of the second half courtesy of a Dilly Duka pass. Duka made it 3-0 when he sent a floating ball from the left flank that snuck under the crossbar and over the Cameroon goalkeeper. Second-half substitute Brian Ownby capped the scoring with a breakaway finish to complete the most unlikely of blowout victories.

The Americans can now secure a berth in the second round with a win against South Korea, though a tie may also be enough to earn qualification.

If you missed the match, here are the highlights:

What did you think of the U.S. team's performance? Impressed with Duka? Change your mind about what you think this team can do in the tournament?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Duka is Lying.He knew he had to cross it but rather try to make it for his own benefit. Lucky it went in. But that was not the case with Korea. Because of selfishnes we lost a game with Korea.

    Reply
  2. Does anyone else think Duka’s goal was just a poor cross?? C’mon, American’s don’t even attempt shots like that.

    Posted by: Tom | September 30, 2009

    I think you answered you own question Tom, Duka is not American.

    Reply
  3. Quote from Duka:

    “It was a pretty nice goal. I received the ball from Brek Shea and got it down the line, then a [defender] came over to pressure me,” the former Scarlet Knight recalled. “I was seeing the coaches on the bench [signaling that] the keeper is out. I decided to chip one and it went in.”

    “When I chipped it, it was flying high and saw the path where the ball was going and thought, ‘alright it’s in.’. It was a great goal, I’m very happy and it put us up [3-0]. I’m excited”

    That should hopefully put that to rest.

    Reply
  4. Brek Shea is not going to Barca in the next transfer window and he is not going to make the 2010 WC team on current form, but he attacks well, tracks back, gets in some good crossses and rarely loses the ball in dangerous areas. Personally, I don’t mind too much if an attacking player sometimes loses the ball while trying to put his team in a scoring position. I haven’t been overly impressed with him before, and I think his hair is ridiculous, but, IMO, he has been one of the top 5 or 6 US players in the first two games. For the Diskerud fans, how did we miss him in this game – who would you have left out of the game to give him minutes?

    Reply

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