The United States U-20 national team played like a group that truly understood the moment. Facing Italy in the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Marko Mitrović’s squad won 3-0 and proved that their success in the group stage was no accident. With two goals from Benjamin Cremaschi and another from Niko Tsakiris, the team secured a spot in the quarterfinals for the fifth consecutive time.
Control, response, and execution
The start was rough. Italy came out pressing hard, hit the post, and forced goalkeeper Adam Beaudry into a couple of solid saves. After that early scare, the U.S. reorganized. In the 15th minute, a cross from Zavier Gozo found Cremaschi at the top of the box. His first attempt was stopped, but the captain pounced on the rebound and opened the scoring.
Mitrović had made seven changes from the previous match, and the response was immediate. The team adjusted quickly, balancing patience in possession with bursts of speed depending on the flow of the game. In midfield, Tsakiris and Brooklyn Raines controlled the tempo. “Everyone did their part and kept pushing forward. I’m playing with a lot of confidence, especially with the group I have around me,” Raines said afterward.
Italy stayed dangerous but ran into a disciplined American defense. Beaudry, still young, showed composure in every save and gave the team a sense of calm. “I thought the game was tough, something that doesn’t really match the final score. We struggled from start to finish,” coach Marko Mitrović admitted to FIFA, acknowledging the collective effort.
Set pieces and composure in the final minutes
The second goal came from a rehearsed play. Tsakiris drew a foul at the edge of the box and, after a quick glance at Cremaschi, curled the free kick toward goal. The ball took a slight deflection and slipped into the corner, doubling the lead. It was a reward for organization and tactical discipline. Italy tried to respond, appealed for penalties, and piled on late pressure, but they lacked clarity in the final third.
In stoppage time, the U.S. showed rare calm for a youth team. Luke Brennan won the ball on the right and released Cremaschi in stride. The captain took a touch, lifted his head, and chipped the keeper with class to seal the win and set a new personal milestone. He’s now the top American scorer in a single U-20 World Cup, with five goals.
Morocco ahead and another test of maturity
With the result, the United States advanced to face Morocco in the quarterfinals, a side on the rise at youth level. The matchup promises intensity and will demand the same emotional control the Americans showed against France and Italy. If they can maintain that same poise and precision, the USMNT has every reason to believe it can aim even higher in Chile.