CONCACAF U-20 World Cup qualifying is going down in Mexico and the U.S. staff has earned the outcomes it has wished, however not essentially the performances. ASN breaks it down
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
July 29, 2026
8:05 PM
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THE UNITED STATES U-19 staff continued its World Cup qualifying marketing campaign with a 3-0 win over El Salvador on Tuesday night time in Puebla, Mexico. After a gap 3-0 win over Haiti, the U.S. staff now has an ideal six factors from two video games with a tournament-best +6 objective differential.
Within the win over El Salvador, the U.S. staff dominated possession however struggled from the run of play to interrupt he sport open. It was not till the thirty fifth minute when the U.S. staff was in a position to capitalize on its possession. The play started when U.S. captain Christopher Applewhite despatched a protracted ball deep into El Salvador’s half and defender Hugo Aguilar tried to go t again to his keeper, Oliver Alegira. U.S. attacker Din Klapija made a run to intercept the ball from Aguilar however was fouled by Alegira for a penalty. Klapija took the kick himself and despatched an unstoppable shot into the highest left nook.
With the U.S. staff now forward, El Salvador elected to stay in its very defensive low-block formation seemingly as a result of objective differential is a tie breaker to determine a spot within the knockouts.
Within the second half, the U.S. staff doubled its lead by yet one more penalty. Within the 61st minute, El Salvador defender Jose Gutierrez harshly fouled Jaidyn Contreras within the field. Ruben Ramos then stepped as much as convert the second penalty.
The ultimate objective got here within the 89th minute when substitute winger Xanti Oyharcabal despatched a floating ball to the far put up from a free kick. Applewhite was in a position to get on the tip of it, and head it again to the middle of the objective the place Christopher Cupps tapped it into the objective from shut vary for a 3-0 win.
Listed below are a couple of ideas on the sport
Berchimas injured
Head coach Gonzalo Segares was compelled to make a change within the nineteenth minute when Nimfasha Berchimas injured his calf whereas being on the incorrect finish of a sort out. He was stretchered off the sphere however was again on the bench in direction of the tip of the sport.
It stays to be seen if Berchimas will be capable to proceed at this event however his absence leaves the staff shorthanded. Dylan Vanney changed him however there may be additionally Xanti Oyharcabal on the bench as a potential alternative within the beginning lineup.
For the U.S. staff, it’s all concerning the quarterfinal and discovering the best choice for that one sport.
Penalties
The U.S. staff has now scored six objectives on this event with 4 objectives coming from the penalty spot. It isn’t behavior to depend on favorable referee choices for objectives, even when every of the penalties was deserved. On this area, calls could be very uneven.
However that is the profit in direction of controlling possession as a lot because the U.S. staff has. In every of the primary two video games, the U.S. staff has had 70% of the possession and between each video games is out-passing opponents 1197-440 in accomplished makes an attempt.
Klapija fires the US forward ???? pic.twitter.com/yeOEtnIdki
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) July 29, 2026
When the U.S. staff has that a lot possession, it places opponents below lots of stress to be mistake-free defensively. At this stage with youngsters in CONCACAF, it is extremely seemingly that when you may have sufficient possession and may ultimately get the ball into the field, there may be going to be a foul.
The U.S. staff was merely in a position to be in sufficient harmful positions that ultimately opponents had been going to make main errors.
Luckily, the U.S. has been glorious in taking penalties.
Extra possibilities from the run of play wanted
The U.S. staff was notably disappointing with its lack of ability to create sufficient possibilities from the run of play. Towards El Salvador, the objectives had been from two penalties and one other from a free kick.
This staff has been disenchanted with its skill to interrupt down a low-block. Too typically it was basic items such has unhealthy touches and overhit passes.
The most important downside, proper now, is that the pace of play must desperately decide up within the attacking third. The U.S. staff wants to search out its mixtures faster particularly when opposing defenses usually are not fairly set. There must be extra explosive dribbling and higher chemistry among the many gamers to mix.
Set piece perfection???????? pic.twitter.com/6K8JlEe4IN
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) July 29, 2026
Most of this downside could be defined by the truth that the U.S. staff continues to be attending to know one another. As has been extensively reported, this isn’t near the perfect U.S. U-20 staff and Segares was denied most of his high gamers by their golf equipment. He has needed to attempt to pick a roster with many gamers who haven’t been often with this staff.
For this sport in opposition to El Salvador, Segares elected to maintain most of his beginning lineup in tact (making just one change) to attempt to construct up chemistry. However he takes of venture in not giving extra minutes to gamers who may be higher matches.
Sadly for Segares, the chemistry continues to be not near the place it must be forward of the quarterfinal, that alone will dictate qualification for the U-20 World Cup.
One profit Segares has in that within the quarterfinal, groups won’t be able to proceed to bunker if the U.S. staff takes a lead. At that time, objective differential will now not matter, solely outcomes will. The U.S. staff will seemingly get to play a extra open sport and have more room to function.
Standings
The U.S. staff sits comfortably atop Group A with six factors and a +6 objective differential. Its opponent on Friday, Cuba, has three factors and a +2 objective differential. Hait, in the meantime, has three factors and a -2 objective differential.
The U.S. staff wins its group with a win or a draw on Friday. However objective differential, clearly nonetheless issues. Cuba might want to attempt to keep its edge over Haiti (in case El Salvador defeats Haiti).
“We’re going to keep going, go as a team” Ruben Ramos ???? pic.twitter.com/oBMDUamyjX
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) July 29, 2026
The knockouts are set by the highest first place finisher standings, high second place standings, and the 2 third place groups. If the U.S. wins, it might get the highest group stage finisher if it posts a excessive objective differential.
For the U.S. staff, a win in opposition to Cuba ensures the staff of a high two finishes amongst group stage winners. It can end as the highest group stage winner and the highest general knockout seed if it wins and finishes with a objective differential higher than Mexico (assuming Mexico defeats Guatemala on Thursday).
No matter objective differentials, the U.S. and Mexico are each assured of dealing with a 3rd place group finisher with a win it its group stage finale.
