Anthony Fontana did his damage during a 20-minute span in the second half. (Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports)

BRADENTON, Fla. — Anthony Fontana struck for a hat-trick during a 20-minute span in the second half to power the United States to a 6-0 victory over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in a Group A match at the 2018 Concacaf Under-20 Championship Wednesday night.

The U.S. remained atop the group with a 4-0-0 mark with one game remaining in the first stage.

With the Americans enjoying a 2-0 lead, the Philadelphia Union midfielder began his personal assault on goalkeeper Jadiel Chance in the 66th minute before adding goals in the 81st and 86th minutes.

Juan Pablo Torres had given the USA all the scoring it needed in the 46th minute before Ulysses Llanez doubled the margin in the 59th minute.

Brandon Servania closed out the scoring in the 90th minute.

The tournament serves as a qualifying arm to the U-20 World Cup in Poland in 2019.

 

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.