USA Beat Canada 4-0 in Impressive Victory
There were chances for both sides in the first half, but the deadlock remained going into halftime. It was not until
Pepi scores late two goals towards the end and Reyna beautifully converts a free kick plus Kayo scores first ever career u-17 goal.
US Rallies Strong and Shows Dominance
The Countdown to CONCACAF U17 CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL vs. Mexico on May 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET Begins …
Mexico is through to the 2019 Concacaf U17 Championship Final after edging Haiti 1-0 in the semifinals on Tuesday night at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. LA Galaxy player, Mexico’s Efrain Alvarez would find the back of the net in the 49’ for the game’s lone goal.
The Momentum was Clearly with the USA
The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team showcased their strengths and played a dominant second-half performance, defeating our northern
The players who made a difference in the match were:
Bryang Kayo who scored his first career goal- Gio Reyna who scored
- Ricardo Pepi who scored a brace
- Goalkeeper Chituru Odunze who earned the USA our fourth-straight clean sheet of the tournament
- Gianluca Busio who a constant threat
13 May 2019
Coaching the U.S. in the Concacaf U-17 competition is Raphael Wicky who has created a winning team that shows their chemistry and force on the field.
The USA held the majority of ball possession and outshot Canada 9-2 but were not able to penetrate Canada’s
Canada goalkeeper Benjamin Collins performed well under the onslaught of pressure. According to U.S. Soccer, “Reyna and Gianluca Busio continually threatened inside Canada’s 18-yard-box but weren’t able to find the back of the net in the opening frame.”
The second half was different.
D.C. United midfielder, Kayo opened the scoring for the USA in the 47th minute with a ball sent to him from Busio, breaking the match’s deadlock.
Then Reyna scored a free kick. “Reyna hit a looping effort inside the left post for his third goal from a dead ball situation at the tournament, a tally that includes the game-winner in the USA’s 3-2 comeback victory against Canada in their group stage opener on May 2,” according to U.S. Soccer.
Sporting KC’s young soccer star, Busio, sparked the USA’s third goal in the 76th minute when he drove the ball towards goal, and Pepi made a move around the goalkeeper to score.
Up Next: USA v Mexico
With Mexico advancing to the Final and facing the USA, soccer buffs are wondering if it will be a rematch of the 2017 CU17 Final when Mexico won after a 5-4 score in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.
As a USA fan, we are hoping for a USA victory in 2019.
Goal Scoring Rundown from U.S. Soccer:
USA – Bryang Kayo 47th minute
USA – Gio Reyna 63
USA – Ricardo Pepi 78
USA – Ricardo Pepi (Gianluca Busio) 82
USA –
USA – Gio Reyna, 64th minute: Seizing possession just beyond the 18-yard box, Reyna started to drive towards the center of the field when he was brought down by Simon Colyn. Lining up for a free kick from a similar distance as his game-winning free kick goal against Canada in the teams’ tournament opener, Reyna, swung a ball to the left-side netting past the ‘keeper to extend the U.S. lead. USA 2, CAN 0.
USA – Ricardo Pepi (Gianluca Busio), 78th minute: Tomas Giraldo couldn’t cleanly control a pass along the Canada back line, and Busio seized the opportunity. He pounced on the mis-possessed ball and hit it past the defense, where Ricardo Pepi dashed in from the right wing to collect it. Pepi beat the goalkeeper one-on-one and slotted it to the far post for his second goal of the tournament. USA 3, CAN 0
USA – Ricardo Pepi (Giancluca Busio), 82nd minute: The Busio-Pepi combination continued four minutes later. Busio forced a turnover at the center circle, took a touch and then sent Pepi through the Canada back line and in alone on goal. Pepi took a touch towards the top of the area and rifled his effort inside the lower left post for his second of the match, thus handing Busio his third assist. USA 4, CAN 0 FINAL
Key Defensive Stops:
CAN – Benjamin Collins and Maxime Bourgeois, 12th minute: Mauricio Cuevas drove to the end line and hit a rolling cross to the near post where Collins attempted to make a save, but collided with the on-rushing Busio, forcing the ball into the air. Ricardo Pepi put a header on-frame, but Bourgeois headed it off the line, before Reyna’s rebound attempt skied over the bar.
CAN – Benjamin Collins, 73rd minute: Taking a free kick from near the left sideline, Reyna swung a booming ball to the far post. Defender Tayvon Gray charged in to meet it with a well-struck header, but Collins got his arms up in time to deflect the chance away.
LINEUP:
USA: 12-Chituru Odunze; 5-Kobe Hernandez, 6-Daniel Leyva, 7-Gianluca Busio, 8-
Subs Not Used: 1-Damian Las, 2-Joseph Scally, 4-Axel Alejandre, 11-Griffin Yow, 17-Tyler Freeman, 18-Jack De Vries
Head Coach: Raphael Wicky
CAN: 18-Benjamin Collins; 2-Keesean Ferdinand, 6-Maxime Bourgeois, 7-Kamron Habibullah, 8-Tomas Giraldo, 9-Jacen Russell-Rowe (11-Jayden Nelson, 50), 10-Simon Colyn (capt.), 13-Matthew Catavolo, 14-David Amla (3-Rohan Goulbourne, 63), 15-Nathan Demian, 16-James Dunning (17-Jeremie Omeonga, 50)
Subs Not Used: 1-Marc Kouadio, 4-Damiano Pecile, 5-Gianfranco Facchineri, 12-Deylen Vellios, 19-Ralph Priso-Mbongue, 20-Julian Altobelli
Head Coach: Andrew Olivieri
Check out the Concacaf Facebook and follow the U-17 MNT throughout the tournament on Twitter. Instagram and Facebook.
Related News: Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Ranking
