ASN: Sargent Scores Once more, U.S. U-20s Transfer Atop Group

Tab Ramos’ U-20 males’s nationwide workforce beat Senegal 1-0 early Thursday, setting the stage for a World Cup showdown with Saudia Arabia on Sunday. Brian Sciaretta has a match report and evaluation right here.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
Might 25, 2017
5:00 PM

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AFTER ANOTHER GOAL from teen Josh Sargent, america U-20 workforce placed on a first-rate defensive show on Thursday to defeat Senegal 1-0 and transfer to the highest of Group F on the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.

The Yanks appeared particularly sturdy within the first half, breaking the impasse within the thirty fourth minute when Tyler Adams despatched a ball that sprung Luca de la Torre behind Senegal’s protection. The Fulham midfielder then despatched an ideal go to Sargent who beat Senegal goalkeeper Mouhamed Mbaye with a tough shot. De la Torre now has two assists and a purpose within the first two video games of the World Cup.

For Sargent, 17, the purpose marked one other milestone in his exceptional two-month run. In April he was the main scorer for the U.S. U-17 workforce in World Cup qualifying, scoring 5 objectives. Tab Ramos made the shocking resolution to shortly name him as much as the U-20 workforce for the World Cup and that call has paid huge dividends because the St. Louis native now has three objectives in his first two video games.

Within the second half, the People emphasised protection however Sargent compelled Mbaye to make saves within the forty eighth and 62th minutes. However the defensive strategy was removed from bunkering as Senegal’s offense confirmed little capability to generate something harmful.

Because of the central protection tandem of Erik Palmer-Brown and the now-healthy Cameron Carter-Vickers, Senegal was solely in a position to muster two comparatively weak pictures on purpose in the whole recreation.

After 4 minutes of stoppage time, the ultimate whistle blew and the U.S. walked away with the deserved victory. With 4 factors in its first two video games, a win over Saudi Arabia on Sunday could be sufficient to clinch the group. A draw on Sunday would safe a spot within the knockout rounds though the 4 factors it has now’s seemingly sufficient, as 4 third-place finishers advance to the knockout spherical.

Listed below are my ideas on america U-20 workforce’s win over Senegal

Carter-Vickers and Palmer-Brown

Coming into the match,Tottenham central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers’ well being was doubtful. He is likely one of the workforce’s high gamers however he missed the earlier 5 weeks with a knee harm. In 2015 he was among the many greatest defenders on the U-20 World Cup however now, as a full skilled, he was anticipated to take his efficiency to a different degree.

The English-born Carter-Vickers erased any concern over his well being and health and placed on a robust show towards Senegal. Extra importantly, his chemistry with workforce captain Erik Palmer-Brown (additionally a hold-over from the 2015 U-20 workforce) was sturdy. Each are among the many greatest teenager American gamers and each performed as much as their potential.

Senegal’s usually environment friendly attackers ran right into a brick wall in Carter-Vickers and Palmer-Brown.

The underside line is that if Palmer-Brown and Carter-Vickers play this nicely, and even enhance because the match progresses, the U.S. can go very far. That pairing can cowl up a whole lot of weaknesses.

Fullback play considerably improved

In World Cup qualifying, Danny Acosta featured at left again and struggled for a number of video games. With Marlon Fossey injured, Aaron Herrera was moved into the best again place. Towards Ecuador, Herrera had a nightmare first half and Acosta was merely common.

Each gamers improved considerably towards Senegal. Acosta remains to be studying the left again place however had his greatest recreation for the U-20s on Thursday. He was not often overwhelmed defensively and pushed ahead successfully into the assault occasionally.

Herrera raised his recreation considerably. He was overwhelmed by a sooner Senegal attacker inside the primary 10 minutes once more however general labored extraordinarily laborious and was efficient within the win. It’s not simple to shake off a really poor recreation in a significant match. Younger gamers can crumble after unhealthy video games and it takes fairly a little bit of psychological energy to rebound the way in which Herrera did.

Adams had his greatest U-20 recreation

U.S. Soccer awarded its man of the match to Carter-Vickers and plenty of followers believed Sargent deserved the honour. That’s honest and each gamers have sturdy arguments.

However Tyler Adams additionally has a case to be the perfect participant within the win over Senegal. Within the recreation’s solely purpose it was his go that received the ball behind Senegal’s protection. Past that sequence, the New York Crimson Bulls midfielder gave a whole efficiency—each offensively and defensively. His passing was the perfect it has ever been on the worldwide degree and defensively he compelled turnovers and closed down passing lanes. His stamina is on one other degree as he continued to cowl tons of floor as Senegal pushed for an equalizer in stoppage time.

As one of many workforce’s youngest gamers, Adams can also be eligible for the 2019 U-20 workforce. He’s maturing shortly and has improved quite a bit since qualifying. The worth of taking part in first-team minutes with New York is paying dividends. It is going to be fascinating to see if affords are available for him after this match.

This Staff Has Character to Spare

On Monday the Yanks got here again from a two-goal deficit to safe a degree towards Ecuador. As we speak Ramos’ males held on for a win towards a really sturdy Senegal workforce that positioned second within the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. In each situations the workforce exhibits the combating spirit American groups was once recognized for.

Total there appears to be an incredible spirit inside this workforce. When one participant is struggling, others know cowl for him. Equally, gamers don’t appear to hold their head once they make errors. As a substitute, the discover a method to enhance. The workforce didn’t hand over after it misplaced Gedion Zelalem within the opening half of the primary recreation. Herrera discovered a technique to shake off a poor outing in recreation one. Adams went from a blended efficiency towards Ecuador to a stellar one towards Senegal.

The workforce has proven that it’s a group of fighters and one which appears to problem-solve shortly. The primary two video games have been fairly spectacular.

Subsequent Up: Saudi Arabia

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia pulled off a shocking 2-1 win over Ecuador. Whereas Saudi Arabia performed nicely, Ecuador was remarkably wasteful and Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Ameen Bokhari made the distinction. Ecuador unleashed 24 pictures and 10 have been on body; Saudi Arabia solely managed three pictures on purpose. Ecuador had extra offensive alternatives however Saudi Arabia gained the sport by being way more scientific.

The USA must be the favourite heading into Sunday’s recreation (5am ET, FS1, Telemundo) and if the People can rating early, it might probably frustrate Saudi Arabia’s likelihood of notching one other upset towards the run of play.

It is laborious to see Ramos altering the beginning lineup however he should begin to concentrate on the primary knockout recreation. The yellow card that Derrick Jones picked up towards Ecuador is a priority. One other card towards Ecuador can have him suspended within the knockout stage. The one different logical substitute for Jones is to maneuver Palmer-Brown into that spot after which shift Justen Glad into central protection.

The actual fact Glad is wholesome and managed to play a couple of minutes on Thursday additionally makes him a candidate to begin. Glad may both play in his pure central protection place if Palmer-Brown strikes to midfield or he may play out of place at proper again.

Predicted beginning XI vs. Saudi Arabia

Goalkeeper: Jonathan KlinsmannRight again: Aaron HerreraCentral defender: Erik Palmer-BrownCentral defender: Cameron Carter-VickersLeft again: Danny AcostaDefensive/holding midfielder: Derrick JonesDefensive/holding midfielder: Tyler AdamsRight midfielder: Brooks LennonCentral midfielder: Eryk WilliamsonLeft midfielder: Luca de la TorreForward: Josh Sargent