The US U-20 national team closed out group play at the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship as Group A winners and will be advancing to the next stage of the competition, following a 7-0 win over Suriname’s U-20 national team on Friday.
The tournament, taking place at Bradenton, Fla., will move to a second group stage, between the six group stage winners divided into two groups, with the winner of each of those groups going to the final and booking a place for the 2019 U-20 World Cup in Poland, and the second-place country also clinching a U-20 World Cup berth. The US will play Honduras and either Haiti, Costa Rica or Saint Lucia, with that stage beginning on Tuesday.
In Friday’s win over Suriname, the Americans got started quickly, with Alex Mendez opening the scoring off a direct free kick just seven minutes in.
W🤯W. Alex Mendez. Filthy free kick.
🇺🇸 1-0 🇸🇷 | #CU20 pic.twitter.com/5EZhYdCMX5
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@ussoccer_ynt) November 9, 2018
Philadelphia Union defender Mark McKenzie then doubled the lead with a header from close range midway through the first half.
Lead = Doubled.
Mark McKenzie goes waaaaay up.🇺🇸 2-0 🇸🇷 | #CU20 pic.twitter.com/6RMIFLbYFx
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@ussoccer_ynt) November 9, 2018
Toronto FC forward Ayo Akinola followed that up by striking for a quickfire brace to close out the first half and make it 4-0.
✌️ goals in ✌️ minutes.
Ayo Akinola bags a first-half brace.🇺🇸 4-0 🇸🇷 | #CU20 pic.twitter.com/ioSvJmnHM9
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@ussoccer_ynt) November 9, 2018
Juan Pablo Torres added a fifth goal just after the hour mark, and substitute Justin Rennicks scored another in the 79th minute.
After Juan Pablo Torres tacked on our fifth, Justin Rennicks adds his name to the U-20 #USMNT scoresheet.
🇺🇸 6-0 🇸🇷 | #CU20 pic.twitter.com/IdbjRbRJFS
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@ussoccer_ynt) November 10, 2018
Mendez tallied his second goal of the game in the 83rd minute, from the penalty spot.
US lineup: Brady Scott; Chris Gloster, Sam Rogers, Mark McKenzie (C), Jaylin Lindsey, Juan Pablo Torres; Frankie Amaya (Isaac Angking, 83), Alex Mendez, Griffin Dorsey (Emanuel Perez, 72), Ayo Akinola (Justin Rennicks, 46), Paxton Pomykal
US goalscorers: Alex Mendez (7, 83), Mark McKenzie (26), Ayo Akinola (43, 45+), Juan Pablo Torres (62), Justin Rennicks (79)
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