Photo by John Dorton/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
A good start has evolved into a great one for the Under-17 U.S. Men’s National Team.
A day after beating France in its Aegean Cup opener, the U.S. routed Norway, 5-2, in its second Group B game on Tuesday. Elijah Rice, Orrin McKinzie Gaines, Nicolas Taitague, Alexis Velela and Christian Pulisic each found the back of the net for the Americans, who sit in first place in their group and could advance to the championship game with a victory vs. Scotland on Thursday.
Rice, Gaines, Taitague and Velela’s goals were their respective firsts for the U.S. while Pulisic’s was his second of the tournament, giving him the most thus far in the American squad.
The U.S. broke a 2-2 game open in the second half, with Velela netting the winner and Pulisic and Taitague adding insurance goals. The Americans had initially jumped out in front via Rice’s tally, but two goals from Norway saw the U.S. trail before Gaines pulled them level five minutes before halftime.
The result is the latest impressive one for the U.S. team being led by head coach Richie Williams. The Americans, who are now 2-0 in the Aegean Cup with a +4 goal differential, recently wont the Nike International Friendlies and also went undefeated (1-0-2) during a tour of Spain last October.
Here are the match highlights:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rLnOBYufFM]
——
What do you think of the Americans’ 5-2 win over Norway? Think they will beat Scotland and make it to the final? Impressed by what this U-17 USMNT is doing or not taking too much stock into these recent results?
Share your thoughts below.