Josh Wolff started the USA off on its rout. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)
The United States continued its shutout streak as it booked a spot in the quarterfinals with another dominant performance at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Mendoza, Argentina on Tuesday afternoon.
Owen Wolff, Cade Cowell, Justin Che and Rokas Pukstas scored goals to lift the USA to a 4-0 victory over New Zealand in the Round of 16 at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas.
The Americans, who have reached the quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive time in the competition, haven’t conceded a goal in 360 minutes of the competition while scoring nine goals themselves.
They will play the winner of the Gambia-Uruguay Round of 16 in the quarters on Sunday, June 4 at 5 p.m. ET.
The USA dominated the match from start to finish, except for Gaga Slonina being forced to make a first-half save and the New Zealanders pushing up during a good portion of first-half stoppage time.
Three minutes prior to the U.S.’s opening goal, Slonina was called onto make a diving save on Jay Herdman’s blast in the 11th minute. As it turned out, it was the most dangerous opportunity by NZ.
Wolff gave the Red, White and Blue all the scoring it needed with a little help from New Zealand goalkeeper Kees Sims in the 14th minute.
He sent a 22-yard shot headed for lower left corner. Sims apparently thought the ball was going to travel wide left and hesitated enough for a second or two as the ball trickled in over the goal line.
The Americans made the Oceania side chase the game for the rest of the half, but could not find the net, despite its near absolute domination.
As the game wore on, the USA wore down the weary New Zealanders.
Cowell struck in the 71st minute, slotting home a Diego Luna feed from 13 yards for a 2-0 advantage.
Che increased the U.S. lead, scoring off a counterattack led by Luna in the 75th minute.
Pukstas, a second-half substitute, headed in Brandan Craig’s free kick from the left side en route to a 4-0 lead in the 82nd minute.