NEW DELHI, India – Well, at least one U.S. national team will record an important victory Friday.
The U.S. Under-17 men’s national side recorded a 3-0 triumph over host India in its Group A opener at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
A crowd of 46,312 turned out to support India for the nation’s first FIFA World Cup game at any level, but the Americans were unfazed by the boisterous atmosphere and through possession carved out numerous chances throughout the first half before captain Josh Sargent earned a penalty kick that he then converted in the 30th minute.
Chris Durkin gave the U.S. breathing room in the 51st minute, volleying home a goal after a U.S. corner kick was half cleared.
Andrew Carleton then put the U.S. out of sight with a smooth finish in the 84th minute, countering India’s only time of sustained pressure for a three-goal margin.
While U.S. goalkeeper Justin Garces had mostly light work in securing the shutout, he came up with a great challenge off his line in the 56th to force an India attacker into skying an attempt well over the bar. He did so again in the 82nd to stifle any flicker of an India comeback.
The full national side will take on Panama in a vital World Cup qualifier Friday night.
The U-17 team will remain here for its second Group A game against Ghana at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Monday at 7:30 a.m. The match can be seen live on FS2 and UNIVERSO.
Scoring Summary:
USA – Josh Sargent (penalty kick) 30th minute
USA – Chris Durkin 51
USA – Andrew Carleton (George Acosta) 84
Lineups:
USA: 1-Justin Garces; 3-Chris Gloster, 4-James Sands, 6-Chris Durkin, 2-Jaylin Lindsey; 11-Andrew Carleton (18-Indiana Vassilev, 90+1), 8-Blaine Ferri, 20-Chris Goslin; 10-Tim Weah, 9-Josh Sargent (capt.), 7-Ayo Akinola (15-George Acosta, 66)
Subs not used: 12-CJ Dos Santos, 21-Alexander Budnik, 5-Tyler Shaver, 13-Sergino Dest, 14-Akil Watts, 16-Taylor Booth, 17-Bryan Reynolds, 19-Jacobo Reyes
Head Coach: John Hackworth
IND: 1-Dheeraj Moirangthem; 3-Jitendra Singh, 4-Anwar Ali, 5-Sanjeev Stalin, 6-Suresh Wangjam (13-Lalengmawia, 90+3); 7-Ninthoinganba Meetei (16-Nongdamba Naorem, 70), 8-Amarjit Kiyam (capt.), 9-Aniket Jadhav, 10-Abhijit Sarkar (14-Rahim Ali, 70); 11-Komal Thatal, 17-Rahul Kannoly
Subs not used: 2-Boris Thangjam, 12-Anthony Hendry, 15-Jeakson Thounaojam, 18-Namit Deshpande, 19-Mohammed Shahjahan, 20-Prabhsukhan Gill, 21-Sunny Dhaliwal
Head Coach: Luis Norton de Matos
Stats Summary: USA/IND
Shots: 19 / 8
Shots on Goal: 7 / 1
Saves: 1 / 4
Corner Kicks: 3 / 3
Fouls: 10 / 8
Offside: 3 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
None
Officials:
Referee: Gery Vargas (BOL)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Pablo Montano (BOL)
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Alberto Antelo Arauz (BOL)
Fourth Official: Claudia Umpierrez (URU)
Man of the Match: Chris Durkin
