USA beats Senegal 1-0 in FIFA U-20 World Cup group play

INCHEON, Korea Republic (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team used a powerful 34th minute strike from Josh Sargent to earn a 1-0 victory against Senegal in its second game at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

The win puts the USA atop Group F with four points and means Tab Ramos’ side can clinch the group with a win against Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Already guaranteed at least a third-place finish, the U.S. can also assure advancement to the Knockout Round with a draw in Sunday’s group finale to clinch at least second place.

The first half hour was mostly devoid of chances until Eryk Williamson poked his measured effort from outside the box just wide in the 29th minute, before Tyler Adams followed up a minute later by forcing a point-blank stop out of Senegal ‘keeper Mouhamed Mbaye.

The goal would come in the 34th minute when a clever touch by Adams unlocked the Senegal back line. Luca de la Torre got on the end of Adam’s pass and found Sargent, who turned and blasted home his third goal of the tournament. The strike also placed Sargent in a tie atop the tournament’s Golden Boot standings with France’s Jean-Kevin Augustin and Venezuela’s Sergio Cordova.

+READ: Josh Sargent becomes youngest player to score at FIFA U-20 World Cup

Ramos’ side stayed hungry in the second half and Sargent would have tallied a second if not for alert denials from Mbaye in the 48th and 62nd minutes. Despite more second-half pressure, the U.S. midfield and back line, led by Man of the Match Cameron Carter-Vickers, continued to frustrate and limit Les Lions de la Teranga to just two attempts on goal, neither of which troubled U.S. goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann.

Earlier in the day, Group F opponent Saudi Arabia raced to a 2-1 victory against Ecuador to earn their first win of the tournament. The day’s results mean the U.S. is guaranteed at least a third-place finish in Group F. The U.S. can clinch top spot in the group with a win against Saudi Arabia on Sunday, while a draw would also guarantee advancement. Various other scenarios could see the USA move on to the Knockout Round as well.

The U.S. closes out group play against Saudi Arabia on Sunday, May 28 at Daejon World Cup Stadium in Daejon, Korea Republic. Kickoff is set for 5 a.m. ET on FS1, FOX Sports Go and Telemundo. Senegal will face Ecuador simultaneously at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, Korea Republic. That match can be seen on FS2, Fox Sports Go and Telemundo En Vivo.

Goal Scoring Rundown:

USA – Josh Sargent (Luca de la Torre) , 34th minute: A relentless U.S. attack found the game’s first goal just after the half-hour mark. Aaron Herrera played a ball forward that Tyler Adams deftly touched through traffic with the outside of his right boot. Luca de la Torre then ran on to the ball and centered for Josh Sargent, whose touch turned him away from his defender and simultaneously set him up to fire his third goal of the tournament past Mouhamed Mbaye. USA 1, SEN 0 FINAL

Key Saves and Defensive Stops:

SEN – Mouhamed Mbaye, 30th minute: A minute after poking his effort from outside the box just wide, Eryk Williamson sprung Josh Sargent up the right side. The 17-year-old attacker alertly hit a quick ball for Tyler Adams running through the middle, but the New York Red Bulls midfielder’s low effort was well held by Mbaye.

SEN – Mouhamed Mbaye, 48th minute: The U.S. nearly found its second goal just after halftime. Playing quickly in transition, Tyler Adams threaded a ball through the Senegal defense for Josh Sargent, but Mbaye came well off his line to sweep away the danger outside his box.

USA – Derrick Jones and Cameron Carter-Vickers, 55th minute: A Senegal free kick from the right fell for Waly Diouf at the back post, but Derrick Jones bravely blocked his effort. The ball was played back in on the follow-up, where Ibrahima Niane’s open look was nodded away by Cameron Carter-Vickers.

SEN – Mouhamed Mbaye, 62nd minute: Sargent remained hungry and came close just after the hour mark. Driving up the right, the U.S. attacker found Adams in the box, before the midfielder flicked back for Sargent at the top of the area. The U.S. goal scorer had to reach back, but hit a left-footed effort that forced a diving stop out of Mbaye at the right post.

Additional Notes:

• After sitting out against Ecuador, Cameron Carter-Vickers returned, anchoring the U.S. backline and earning Man of the Match honors vs. Senegal.
• Josh Sargent’s 34th minute goal was his third of the tournament and ties him for the Golden Boot lead with Jean-Kevin Augustin (France) and Sergio Cordova (Venezuela).
• Sargent now sits just one goal shy of matching the U.S. record for goals by one player at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, a mark jointly held by Taylor Twellman (1999), Eddie Johnson (2003) and Jozy Altidore (2007).
• Luca de la Torre recorded his second assist of the tournament on Sargent’s goal. Those two assists go along with his game-tying strike from the tournament opener against Ecuador.
• U.S. defender Aaron Herrera received a yellow card in the seventh minute. He joins Derrick Jones, who picked up a yellow card against Ecuador, on the USA’s caution watch list.
• Tab Ramos made two changes from the starting XI that faced Ecuador, inserting Cameron Carter-Vickers for Tommy Redding in central defense and Derrick Jones for the injured Gedion Zelalem in midfield.
• Ramos moves to 4-3-3 all-time at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
• The USA and Senegal faced each for the first time in the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

– U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team Match Report –

Match: U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team vs. Senegal
Date: May 25, 2017
Competition: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup – Group F
Venue: Incheon Stadium; Incheon, Korea Republic
Kickoff: 7 a.m. ET (8 p.m. local time)
Attendance: 5,864
Weather: 63 degrees; Windy and clear

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                       1 0 1
SEN                       0 0 0

USA – Josh Sargent (Luca de la Torre) 34th minute

Lineups:
USA: 1-Jonathan Klinsmann; 3-Danny Acosta, 16-Cameron Carter-Vickers, 5-Erik Palmer-Brown (capt.), 14-Aaron Herrera; 7-Eryk Williamson (6-Justen Glad, 84), 8-Tyler Adams, 18-Derrick Jones; 17-Brooks Lennon, 19-Josh Sargent (15-Jeremy Ebobisse, 90+4), 20-Luca de la Torre (13-Lagos Kunga, 90)
Subs not used: 2-Auston Trusty, 4-Tommy Redding, 9-Emmanuel Sabbi, 11-Sebastian Saucedo, 12-James Marcinkowski, 21-Brady Scott
Head coach: Tab Ramos

SEN: 1-Mouhamed Mbaye; 3-Jean Ndecky, 2-Waly Diouf, 6-Mamadou Diarra (capt.), 4-Souleymane Aw; 5-Cavin Diagne (20-Akhibou Ly, 76), 17-Krepin Diatta, 19-Bamba Kane; 11-Ibrahima Ndiaya, 10-Aliou Badji (12-Habib Gueye, 79), 7-Ibrahima Niane
Subs not used: 8-Moussa Ba, 9-Mouhamed Pouye, 13-Alioune Gueye, 14-Ousseynou Niang, 15-Mamadou Mbaye, 16-Lamine Sarr, 18-Souleye Sarr, 21- Idrissa Ndiaye
Head coach: Joseph Koto

Stats Summary: USA / SEN
Shots: 8/14
Shots on Goal: 3/2
Saves: 2/2
Corner Kicks: 6/8
Fouls: 18/16
Offside: 0/3

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Aaron Herrera (caution) 7th minute
SEN – Bamba Kane (caution) 60
SEN – Mamadou Diarra (caution) 86
SEN – Ibrahima Ndiaya (caution) 88

Officials:
Referee: Andrés Cunha (URU)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Taran (URU)
Assistant Referee 2: Mauricio Espinosa (URU)
Fourth Official: Roberto Garcia (MEX)
Video Assistant Referee: Mauro Vigliano (ARG)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Wilton Sampaio (BRA)

ussoccer.com Man of the Match: Cameron Carter-Vickers