As time is creeping closer to the date of the Men’s FIFA U-20 World Cup 2015 Final, soccer teams from around the world are taking to the fields to battle for their place in the competition.
The team for the United States has held strong their first couple games to make it to the Round of 16. The USA team is scheduled to face Colombia Wednesday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Colombia won 1-0 in their first match against Qatar. However, Colombia’s team managed to sneak into the Round of 16 even after tying their match with Senegal 1-1 and falling to Portugal with an ending score of 1-3.
Colombia is ranked fourth according to the current FIFA World Ranking. The USA team on the other hand, is currently ranked 27th, after two wins against Myanmar and New Zealand, respectively, followed by a loss to Ukraine.
USA’s first game, which took place May 30, found tough competition against Myanmar. Yan Naing Oo, of Myanmar scored the opening goal of the tournament, applying early pressure to the American team.
This was only before Htike Htike Aug tested USA Goalkeeper Zack Steffen of The University of Maryland inside six minutes with a long-range effort shortly before USA regained stability within the competition.
After a few short minutes of pressure, Maki Tall connected with Cameron Carter-Vicker’s flick-on to the back post, and volleyed the ball into the net’s roof. More time had passed and Myanmar attacked again, looking to get ahead when USA forward Rubio Rubin countered. The counter led to USA captain Emerson Hyndman landing a goal to win the game.
June 2 brought the second game for USA against FIFA U-20 World Cup hosts New Zealand. They pulled off an 4-0 win with goals from Rubio Rubin, Emerson Hyndman and Paul Arriola. Rubin scored the first and last goals made in the game.
During the USA versus Ukraine match, which took place June 5, Ukraine’s Viktor Kovalenko scored three goals after a scoreless first half of the game. After the first goal was made, Emerson Hyndman made an attempt to equalize the game but was denied by Ukraine’s captain Bohdan Sarnavskyi. After two more of Kovalenko’s goals, the game ended with a Ukraine win, 3-0.
Matches for Men’s U-20 FIFA began Saturday, May 30 and will continue through Sat., June 20.
