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U.S. U-20s bounce back with World Cup qualifying win over Haiti

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The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team simply didn’t show up to the first match of World Cup qualifying, but Tab Ramos’ side certainly stepped up in a big way on Tuesday with their World Cup hopes on the line.

After conceding an early goal, the U.S. rattled off four unanswered finishes of their own to cruise past Haiti, 4-1, in the second match of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship group stage. The win gives the U.S. a favorable path to the final as a win over St. Kitts & Nevis on Friday would all but certainly send the U.S. through thanks to goal differential.

The match started poorly for the U.S. U-20s, who saw themselves down a goal early thanks to some inexcusable defending. A seemingly harmless cross worked its way through the U.S. backline in the 16th minute, giving Kenley Dede a free chance to send Haiti into an early lead.

From that point, the U.S. picked up the slack a little bit before eventually breaking through in the 29th minute. Following a foul on Jonathan Lewis inside the Haiti box, Brooks Lennon stepped up to bury the penalty kick.

In the second half, though, the floodgates finally opened. Just a few minutes into the second 45, Luca de la Torre pushed the U.S. into the lead, pouncing on a loose ball in the box following a save by Haiti goalkeeper

Just one minute later, the U.S. provided the best attacking sequence of the game, as Lewis, Ebobisse and Lennon combined on a goal from the Real Salt Lake loanee. Lennon completed has hat-trick just a few minutes later, firing home a rebound to push the scoreline to 4-1 in favor of the U.S.

The second half barrage came after a relatively quiet first half, aside from Lennon’s penalty kick goal. Ebobisse created the team’s best look late in the half only to see a shot trickle just wide of the far post.

The U.S. returns to action on Friday against St. Kitts & Nevis for the third and final game of the group stage.

Comments

  1. We won, but we did not play well. The score was lopsided but we still lacked any real quality in the offensive half. I agree with others that it is going to be very hard for this team to qualify.

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  2. If they do qualify I think the roster could look totally different for the WC. I can see McKinnie, Akale, Wright and maybe even Zelalem getting released due to it being after their club seasons are over. Adding Zelalem and Akale to the central midfield would give them the passing, possession and attacking they have lacked in the attacking third. Mckinnie would allow EPB to settle in at CB instead of Redding and putting Wright on the opposite side of Lennon would be dangerous on the wings. CCV would be a nice addition too but Glad has played OK. This team lacks professional experience and it has shown. Last cycle their were a lot more players with regular first team mins like Rubin, Hyndman, Thompson, Arriola, Miazga and Acosta. I forgot Perez could be available also. No way CP22 will be there though.

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