The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team went into the CONCACAF Under-17 World Cup qualifying tournament considered a favorite to win it all. Tonight, the Americans need a win just to avoid a disastrous showing.
The U.S. is facing Jamaica tonight in a winner-take-all Under-17 World Cup qualifying playoff match (7pm, Fox Sports 2). Win and the Americans qualify for the World Cup. Lose and it will mark one of the most stunning collapses in U.S. youth national team history.
The Americans must beat the same Jamaica team they lost to just four days ago, 1-0, via a penalty kick. The U.S. created the better chances on that day, but failed to find the net, setting up this do-or-die match.
SBI will be providing live commentary on tonight’s match so please feel free to follow the action here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Tonight’s commentary is after the jump):
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Long ball…piece of skill…cross to no one……skyward clearance out of bounds…long throw…long ball…piece of skill…long ball…piece of skill…shot that lands in Belize…stupid retaliation foul that should have drawn a red…disgraceful…watching this hot mess was like nails on a chalkboard.
Got to hand it to Jamaica. They played their park the bus strategy to perfection. As the first match showed, anything can happen if you can keep the other team from scoring. Add in these Concacaf refs and you can almost count on a break of some sort. This game was a much better effort by the Americans, but there’s not much to do when there are 9 guys in the box with seven of them inside the six anytime the US came into the final third. I wish Jamaica could have gone through because they showed a lot of grit, but at some point they needed to come out and attack, and they never really did that.
Jamaica parks the bs and the U.S. Plays attacking football and you wish Jamaica prevails over the U.S.? Really hard to understand that!
let me clarify… I wish they could have gone through as well. Jamaica reminds me of US youth teams of old…highly athletic, no quit, emotional play, but not quite at the level they need to be skills wise to consistently succeed. The better team won, but the US wasn’t better by much.
Richie and Tab out for the upcoming youth world cups
US putting Jamaica under a ton of pressure now. Just not connecting with the final service into the box.
Wow are they playing poorly. everything is 1 v 1, especially in midfield. This team is not prepared, has no discipline. The coach must be fired even if they win
Why is Haji starting again? He should be bench to regain that hunger, he’s been playing lackadaisical all tournament.