INCHEON, Korea — Josh Sargent scored his his third goal in two games, which was enough for the United States as it recorded a 1-0 Group F win over Senegal at Incheon Football Stadium Thursday.
The victory boosted the Americans (1-0-1, 4 points) to the top of the group as the African side fell to 1-1-0.
Sargent, who at 17 is the youngest player on the U.S. team, scored in the 34th minute. The St. Louis native received a pass from Luca de la Torre near the edge of the penalty area before turning his defender and fired a shot past goalkeeper Mouhamed Mbaye before a crowd of 5,864.
Sargent, a standout on the U.S. U-17 team who was a surprising addition to the U-20 squad tallied twice in a 3-3 draw with Ecuador Monday.
Already assured a third-place finish, the U.S. can book a spot in the Round of 16 with a draw against Saudi Arabia in its final group-stage encounter Sunday at 5 a.m. (FS1, Telemundo). A win would clinch the group title.
Most of the opening 30 minutes was mostly devoid of chances until Eryk Williamson poked his measured effort from outside the box just wide in the 29th minute, before Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams followed up a minute later by forcing a point-blank stop from Mbaye.
Sargent’s goal came 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 blasted home the goal. 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.
Coach Tab Ramos’ side stayed hungry in the second half and Sargent would have tallied a second if not for saves by Mbaye in the 48th and 62nd minutes. Despite more second-half pressure, the U.S. midfield and back line, led by Cameron Carter-Vickers, continued to frustrate and limit Les Lions de la Teranga.
Goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann recorded the shutout.
Earlier in the day, Group F opponent and third-place Saudi Arabia (1-1-0, 3) raced to a 2-1 victory past Ecuador (0-1-1, 1) to earn its first win of the competition.
Scoring Summary
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
|
2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Group F Standings |
||||||||
|
Team |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
Pts. |
GF |
GA |
GD |
|
USA |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
+1 |
|
Senegal |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
+1 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
-1 |
|
Ecuador |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
-1 |
