U.S. Earns U20 World Cup Birth with 4-2 Win over Canada
By Doug Smith
The U.S. U20 team had to face its northern neighbor for a spot in the World Cup next year. The winner of the quarterfinal match up would secure one of the four CONCACAF births. After a feeling out period, the two squads exchanged goals midway through the first half. The dynamic Jose Villarreal gave the U.S. the lead heading into halftime, but Wil Trapp wasn’t satisfied as he added a third goal in stoppage time of the first half to put the U.S. in control. Villarreal would add his second and the U.S. would hold off Canada 4-2 for a birth in the 2014 U20 World Cup.
Dec 11, 2011; Hoover, AL, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels defender Boyd Okwuonu (4) along with UNC Charlotte 49ers forward Donnie Smith (20) take it off the head during the NCAA Soccer Championship at Regions Park. The Tar Heels defeated the 49ers 1-0 to win the championship. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
The U.S. started the match with very little spacing and more of an attacking mindset than Canada. The Canadians were willing to sit back and wait for the right time to counter attack. U.S. defender Boyd Okwuonu was exposed a few times in the early going, but Benji Joya and Wil Trapp were alternating playing very deep in the midfield to help the defense. This cause issues holding the ball in the midfield early in the match for the United States. Villarreal and Mario Rodriguez were also alternating as the lone striker or playing out on the right wing.
Canada’s patience paid off as they would open the scoring. Dylan Carreiro was given plenty of space and hit a shot from distance that Cody Cropper could not stop. The goal woke up the United States attack as Villarreal, Rodriguez, Luis Gil, and Daniel Cuevas took over. Rodriguez was markedly improved from the group stage. The left side of Cuevas and Juan Ocegueda was linking up well. Gil would not allow Canada to hold onto the lead very long as he took a cross from Cuevas and got a clean deflection into the net.The momentum had swung and Canada’s captain would have to come out of the game injured a few minutes after the Gil goal. Doniel Henry would have to be replaced by Manjrekar James. The second goal from the U.S. would come in the 40th minute as Rodriguez took on four Canadian players that failed to close down. He found Villarreal easily for the finish. Trapp would get the third goal after a bad punch and a nice deflection on his shot from distance.
The team was clicking, especially in the final third with the attack just too much for Canada. It continued early in the second half as Villarreal would collect his second after composed possession with crisp passing. Samuel Piette was not going out like that though and his goal to pull Canada within two could definitely be classified as a Golazo. Piette took advantage of space once again.
Danny Garcia would come in for Gil in the 78th minute. Gil will meet up with Real Salt Lake following the match and will be unavailable for the remainder of the under-20 tournament. Villarreal came off late but will stay with the youth national team. The U.S. U20 will await the winner of Cuba and Costa Rica in the semifinal.