ASN: Breaking down the U.S. U-20 group’s 2-0 World Cup win over Nigeria

The USA is again on observe on the 2019 U-20 World Cup after a 2-0 win over Nigeria. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks down the sport for you and appears forward to Qatar. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
Could 27, 2019
5:00 PM

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THE UNITED STATES is again on observe in Poland on the U-20 World Cup after a 2-0 win over Nigeria put the group in stable place to advance to the knockout phases. Following a tricky 2-1 loss to Ukraine on Friday within the opener, the U.S. now has three factors and can end group play on Thursday in opposition to Qatar.

Ramos made only one change from the beginning lineup in opposition to Ukraine as Sebastian Soto changed Brandon Servania. That moved pushed Weah from the No. 9 to the wing. Paxton Pomykal then moved centrally from the wing and Soto moved into the No. 9 heart ahead place.

The U.S. group managed this sport from begin to end and had a major majority of possession and scoring alternatives in opposition to Nigeria.

The USA discovered the breakthrough within the 18th minute when an Alex Mendez nook kick discovered a wide-open Sebastian Soto who didn’t miss together with his header. From there, the U.S. group was at all times on the entrance foot trying to lengthen its lead. Alex Mendez additionally hit the cross bar off a deflected shot.

USA TAKE THE LEAD!

Sebastian Soto scores his first purpose of the event and places ???????? on ???? pic.twitter.com/m2V6ok1MaC

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) Could 27, 2019

Tim Weah almost doubled the U.S. benefit however he had a pair of close-range pictures that had been saved. However 30 second into the second half, the U.S. lastly discovered the second purpose when a beautiful run from Chris Gloster from inside his personal half ended close to the penalty field when he was capable of ship Soto into the field for a close-range shot. He faked Nigerian goalkeeper Olawale Oremade together with his first contact and simply completed together with his second.

Enormous purpose for the US U-20!! Soto together with his second. Gloster, Pomykal, & Soto having nice respective tournaments pic.twitter.com/RvAZA3khkZ

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) Could 27, 2019

There have been a number of moments of concern for the U.S. group within the second half. The primary was how Chris Richards needed to be subbed out of the sport for an damage. He was changed by Mark Mckenzie who has not performed a lot soccer in 2019 as a consequence of accidents and seemed rusty. McKenzie was initially referred to as for a penalty off a foul however VAR decided that the play was offside.

Listed below are some ideas on this sport

Shares rising for Pomykal and Gloster
Over the course of two video games, Paxton Pomykal and Chris Gloster have been the 2 finest American gamers. Chris Richards and Alex Mendez have had their moments and are additionally shut. However Pomykal and Gloster have been excellent.

Gloster has been very stable on each side of the ball and is simply so persistently error free. It have to be very comforting for Tab Ramos to not have a priority a the left again place – a place which has plagued U.S. groups for generations.

The run that arrange the group’s second purpose was only a big-time play and it confirmed an attacking aspect for Gloster that matches his protection.

For Pomykal, he seems to be extraordinarily snug with the ball beneath stress and is ready to routinely hit passes that play his teammates into harmful attacking positions. He got here in with quite a lot of expectations and has thus far lived as much as them.

Soto was a giant inclusion
Transferring Sebastian Soto into the central ahead function clearly paid off. Tim Weah has been in a bizarre membership type this yr as his place at Celtic was undefined (floating between winger and heart ahead) and his minutes declined all through his mortgage stint. In Soto, Ramos had a extra polished central ahead who’s in type after enjoying persistently with Hannover’s U-19 group all through the season.

Soto did nicely on this sport, not simply together with his ending, however quite his motion. He moved nicely into area to get open for the header on the primary purpose. On the second purpose, his timing to make his run off Gloster into the field was first-rate.

Some gamers nonetheless to get going
The excellent news for the U.S. group is that in addition to they performed in opposition to Nigeria, the group continues to be able to much more.

Tim Weah missed some key possibilities and he clearly lacks chemistry with this group. Because the event progresses, that ought to solely enhance. Additionally with Weah, he’s additionally rusty from restricted time with Celtic since February. As he will get right into a rhythm, he’ll solely carry out higher.

The identical will also be stated for Konrad de la Fuente who has had some attention-grabbing moments with the ball, however his remaining all has been missing. As one of many youngest gamers on the group, he ought to solely get sharper and appears as if he has the potential to floor in massive moments.

Chris Durkin has been one of many group’s finest gamers via 2019 and his first sport in opposition to Ukraine was not good. Outdoors of some moments, Durkin was considerably improved in opposition to Nigeria though he may nonetheless be even higher.

Mark McKenzie seemed very shaky after approaching to exchange Chris Richards however that’s solely as a consequence of his lack of minutes in 2019 due to accidents. If he can discover a rhythm heading into the knockouts, the U.S. group ought to be robust form within the again.

The most important concern proper now, nonetheless, is Sergino Dest who has struggled thus far on this event. Defensively, he must be higher. However which may even be affecting his offensive sport has he hasn’t been as threatening as he might be together with his runs ahead. If Dest doesn’t present enchancment earlier than the knockouts (ought to the U.S. group qualify), Ramos would possibly really feel compelled to go along with the younger Julian Araujo who’s extra recognized for his defensive attributes – whereas additionally nonetheless being a menace within the assault.

Waiting for Qatar
On Thursday, the U.S. group will try and guide its spot within the knockout phases with a end result in opposition to Qatar. The U.S. group may nonetheless conceivably win the group with a giant win over Qatar and a Nigeria win over Ukraine (whereas additionally scoring sufficient to win the purpose differential tiebreaker). In fact, if the U.S. group finishes in second, it seemingly faces tournament-favorites France within the Spherical of 16.

Ramos would possibly elect to go along with some squad rotation, though there ought to be sufficient break earlier than the beginning of the knockouts to make it not as vital.

One concern for Ramos is yellow playing cards. Chris Durkin, Alex Mendez, Chris Gloster, and Konrad de la Fuente are all carrying a yellow and can be suspended for his or her subsequent sport upon their subsequent yellow card. These are all key gamers that maybe Ramos would possibly contemplate resting.

With that stated, it would make sense to present Edwin Cerrillo his first minutes in Poland instead of Chris Durkin. The identical is perhaps the case for Richard Ledezma for Mendez, Uly Llanez for de la Fuente, and Matt Actual for Chris Gloster. Additionally, with the damage standing of Chris Richards unclear, Mark McKenzie is perhaps pressured into motion.

Qatar has misplaced its first two video games on the World Cup however continues to be considerably of a difficult opponent the place the U.S. group will must be cautious. Ramos might want to make some adjustments however simply what number of stays to be seen.

The U.S. group was excellent in opposition to Nigeria and Ramos received’t need to disrupt that progress.