The U.S. Under-17 men’s national team topped Group at the U-17 World Cup.
Mathis Albert’s second-half goal propelled the Americans to a 1-0 group stage finale victory over the Czech Republic on Tuesday. The result made the USMNT U-17’s the first team in U-17 World Cup history to win all three of their group stage matches.
Albert came off the bench and delivered a composed right-footed finish into the bottom corner. The Borussia Dortmund youth player one-timed his shot in the 78th minute, breaking the deadlock.
Despite Niko Tsakiris being sent off in second-half stoppage time, the Americans would hang on for three points. Tsakiris will now meet the Round of 32 due to suspension.
Goalkeeper Aidan Stokes made five saves to preserve the clean sheet.
The Americans will next face Morocco in the Round of 32 on either November 14 or 15.
A chance at redemption against Morocco after losing at the Olympics and U20 level. First time since 1991 that the USA has gone 3-0 in group stage. The US has never won 4 games at a U17 WC.
Good win. Still flummoxed with Segares not getting his fullbacks more in attack. You can tell its Segares tactics. Cavan was demonstrably motioning for Tsakiris to overlap him on various occasions and Tsakiris stayed back.
If this team makes a deep run, its not because of Segares setting the team up well, it will be because Cavan, Burchimas, or Albert making things happen.
That’s the strategy, our defense is the weak point so keep the FBs back and win it with our attackers are more special than yours.
Albert’s finish was very nice. But it wasn’t with his first touch. In fact, his first touch was a really good one to put him behind the defense with a good angle to goal. He finished nicely with his second touch.
And which Tsakiris is on this team? I thought I saw that it was Matteo Tsakiris? Niko is older? Anyway, it was a terrible red card, Tsakiris gets to the ball first. Yes, he stepped on the other kid’s ankle with his follow through, but I’m not sure what you want him to do. He won the ball, cleanly and clearly. Should he not go for a very winnable ball because there will be contact with the other player after he wins the ball? Honestly, I thought when the ref went to VAR that he would rescind the yellow, not upgrade it to red.
Yeah I agree, that first touch towards goal was sick when you think about the level of touch he put on the ball to keep it just far enough away from the on rushing keeper
I watched it a few times. I think his studs were up when he hit him which I think is considered a serious foul play. Actually, the rule as written doesn’t make much sense because it says any play that endangers another player is a serious foul play and requires a red card so technically, if you injure another player, by rule it is a red card. That is obviously not how the rule is ever interpreted but I see people on other sites stating that as justification for the red. To me, the justification is that when you go in for a tackle, by rule, you can’t expose your studs in the follow through and IMO that is what he did. I have seen a lot worse not even get a yellow and have definately seen refs not call a foul at all if the defender gets the ball first. The rules say subjective things like excessive force and endangering an opponent so it is up to the refs discretion so if he thinks either of those apply, he is supposed to give a red card. The player was definately endangered by the play.
Sure, I get all that. It looked bad, and if Tsakiris doesn’t get the ball first, it’s a clear red. But he got the ball first. He wasn’t coming in late on a tackle, he had already won the ball and was following through. He had just played the ball, firmly, and his boot was a foot in air on the follow through. So there is no way not to expose his studs.
What’s done is done, I just don’t see the logic in that call. I feel bad for the kid, he was making a good aggressive play and beat his opponent to the ball. I hope he only gets one game and the US wins the next round so he can play again in the tournament.
Good game! The way Albert scored reminded me of Prime Clint Dempsey!