By RYAN TOLMICH
Facing elimination time and time again in a penalty kick shootout, Zack Steffen lived up to the hype and provided the U.S. a lifeline.
Steffen saved a pair of do-or-die penalty kicks to keep hopes alive for the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team. Those saves, along with the handful of top-shelf stops he made during the match, helped him earn earn SBI’S U.S. Under-20 Man of the Match.
Despite falling in penalty kicks, the U.S. may have never reached the shootout if not for the play of Steffen, who provided a trio of big saves in the second half to keep Serbia off the board. Steffen’s play in regular time proved to only be a preview of the levels he would reach in penalty kicks, as the goalkeeper twice played hero by recording saves to keep the U.S. alive.
The U.S. goalkeeper did everything the U.S. could have possibly asked of him in playing hero in both regular time and penalty kicks, earning Steffen MOTM honors over defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Matt Miazga.
What did you think of Steffen’s performance? Which player stood out to you in the U.S.’s penalty kick loss to Serbia?
Share your thoughts below.
Jurgen should start calling up Steffen over Cropper this kid can be the next Tim Howard hopefully he can move up to the first team SC Freiburg get some playing time with them to bad they got demoted
If we had Steffen kick a PK we’d be in the semis.
The U-17’s are going to make it to the Finals when they play in four years. Now can they win it?
Steffan is a baller. Whole backlibe was outstanding. Arriola is a joy to watch and some other good moments from other players but the midfield overall lacked a bit of that extra grit to win the game in regulation.
That was also a clinic on how not to take a penalty by three or four US players.
I’d propose a triumvirate of Men of the Match: Steffen, Carter-Vickers & Miazga.
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Finally we have Kasey Keller reincarnated! He has a better kicking game than Kasey had though.
Great tournament from this man, Zack Steffen!
No doubt about it. He kept us in this match, and gave us a chance in the PK shootout. He did let one in he should’ve stopped.