ASN: U.S. U-20s Beat Colombia, Transfer to Quarterfinals

Rubio Rubin scored a ruthless aim within the 58th minute and goalkeeper Zack Steffen stopped a late penalty to present the U.S. under-20 males’s nationwide staff a large win within the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

BY

John Godfrey

Posted
June 10, 2015
7:35 AM

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JURGEN KLINSMANN’S senior nationwide staff could not win a knockout spherical sport final summer time in Brazil, however Tab Ramos’ under-20 males’s squad stared down an enormous, robust, proficient Colombia staff early Wednesday morning and emerged with a powerful 1-0 win.

The younger Yanks will now face Serbia within the U-20 World Cup Quarterfinals on Sunday in Auckland (12:30am ET, Fox Sports activities 1).

The decisive aim got here simply earlier than the one-hour mark, and it occurred towards the run of play. In a uncommon second of U.S. possession in a complicated place, U.S. captain Emerson Hyndman headed a ball ahead from simply exterior the penalty space. Paul Arriola took a swipe on the 50-50 ball and it deflected off Colombian defender Juan Quintero earlier than falling to Rubio Rubin, who rifled a laser into the higher proper nook of the web.

A jubilant Rubin jogged to the sidelines to have a good time and his teammates piled on prime of the Oregon native. All of them appeared thrilled—and maybe a bit shocked—that they’d grabbed the lead. The Individuals would face loads of adversity over the ultimate half-hour, however the gamers fought laborious and held on for the victory.

It was a rugged, chippy contest from the opening whistle, and neither staff backed down from a problem for all the 90 minutes. In actual fact, the bodily nature of the sport pressured Ramos to make an early change when ahead Bradford Jamieson landed awkwardly after a fifth-minute problem and needed to be subbed out. Jordan Allen got here on for the Los Angeles Galaxy ahead, leaving the Yanks with a solitary striker for the second sport in a row.

Not like the Ukraine match, which the U.S. misplaced 3-0, the staff was up for the problem Wednesday. Ramos’ staff performed a high-pressure sport and constantly sought to play the ball via the midfield. Colombia did the identical, and the opening 45 minutes featured some pretty, contentious, aggressive soccer. 

Colombia had the dimensions and energy benefit, and put loads of strain on U.S. central defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Matt Miazga. However the Individuals defended properly as a bunch and by no means allowed their opponents a lot time on the ball. Because the halftime whistle blew, Colombian had the benefit in possession however not on the scoreboard.

Rubin’s ruthless aim modified the dynamic of the match utterly. For the subsequent 10 minutes or so the U.S. did an excellent job holding the ball and forcing its opponents to chase the sport, however an more and more determined Colombian staff ultimately established extra management via the midfield and pushed laborious for an equalizer.

They usually almost obtained it.

Within the 81st minute, Colombian attacker Rodin Quinones turned U.S. defender Kelly Acosta alongside the appropriate facet of the top line and contained in the penalty space. Acosta obtained his palms up on Quinones, who went to floor. Croation refereee Antonio Ivan Bebek instantly known as a penalty and brandished a second yellow to the FC Dallas defender, who was pressured to depart the sector.

On the following penalty, nevertheless, American goalkeeper Zack Steffen got here up big, feinting to his left after which diving to his proper to dam Jarlan Barrera’s low, well-struck shot. Arriola pounced on the rebound and blasted it into contact as Steffen’s teammates congratulated the previous College of Maryland backstop.

There was no time to have a good time, nevertheless, as Colombia got here proper again on the Individuals on the next play. Arriola headed Colombia’s curling nook proper in entrance of aim however it fell to Deinner Quiñones, who created area for himself and struck a ball that appeared destined for the far nook of the web. However Arriola was there once more, clearing the ball off the road and defusing the assault. 

Down a person with seven minutes left in regulation, the Yanks proceeded to take the air out of the ball, clogging the center and difficult Colombia to take low-percentage, long-range photographs. Ramos introduced in a pair of substitutes, too, disrupting the move of the competition and getting some contemporary legs onto the pitch in John Requejo and Tommy Thompson.

As time ticked off the clock, the Individuals did a masterful job of holding off Colombia regardless of having simply 10 males on the sector. And when the ultimate whistle blew all the American contingent sprinted onto the sector, swarming Steffen and Rubin because the dejected Colombians stared and, in a minimum of one case, sobbed on the pitch.

John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now. He tweets about soccer right here.