The United States claimed three wins from three matches at the FIFA U-20 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Slovakia in San Juan, Argentina, on Friday to clinch top spot in Group B.
Striker Cady Coyle was the star of the young Americans, scoring a brilliant solo goal in the 38th minute that sent them on their way to victory. Substitute Nico Tsakiris added a second deep in second-half stoppage time to ensure the USA would finish the group stage on maximum points without conceding a goal.
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The United States has already secured a place in the last 16 with previous wins over Ecuador and Fiji. Ecuador, with six points, will join the United States in the last 16, while Slovakia, with three, will have to wait and see if they qualify as one of the four best third-placed teams.
The United States will now face one of the top third-place teams on Tuesday for a place in the quarter-finals.
It’s the star of San Jose Earthquakes Coil who will rightly take the credit for this latest win for Mickey Varas’ team. The 19-year-old’s goal showed why he had been a regular in Major League Soccer for three years and had been regularly linked with interest from clubs in Europe.
After intercepting a pass halfway through, Coyle skated in and out of a series of Slovakia players at high speed before finding the net with a low left-footed shot.
The goal was coming for the United States and for Cowell after he twice came close to breaking the deadlock before his memorable goal.
Coyle should have found the net in the 27th minute after getting a long ball forward from defender Brandan Craig past Slovakia goalkeeper Adam Herdina, he lifted the ball over his head but fired his shot all the way into the open net.
Eight minutes later, Coyle got the ball into the net after racing a through ball and hit Herdina, only to be immediately flagged offside.
But Cowell wasn’t denied, which put the United States ahead in the intervening period.
That goal could have been added on multiple occasions in the second half as Coyle continued to wreak havoc on Slovakia. Twice Diego Luna could not make the most of Coyle’s setup, shooting from close range and then hitting the post with a lateral effort from the center of the penalty area.
Cole was destined to have a stunning solo goal too, only this time it was denied by Herdina’s legs.
Instead, after Coyle left early to deserve an applause, it was fellow San Jose Tsakiris who scored the second goal with a clever finish at the near post in the sixth minute of extra time.