US Dominate Belgium, Jump to Second in Group by Mark Flannery - August 26, 2007 |
|||
With their backs up against the wall, the, the United States U-17s accomplished the improbable by not only qualifying for the round of 16, but leapfrogging first game nemesis Tajikistan for second place by defeating Belgium 2-0 in their final group game.
Tunisia beat Tajikistan in the other Group E game Sunday afternoon in South Korea, giving the African side a perfect record and leaving Belgium, Tajikistan and the US all with three points. Belgium were eliminated with a -3 goal differential while Tajikistan and the US both finished with a -1, giving the United States the advantage with six goals scored and the edge into 2nd place.
Though at one point it looked as the US U-17s couldn't score no matter what they did, and that the US would not soon forget all the missed opportunities of the first half, Kirk Urso, a 46th minute entry, put his first shot on goal past Belgian keeper Jo Coppens in the 63rd, and US Captain Mykell Bates doubled the lead with a header eight minutes later.
The US dominated the contest, finishing with 21 shots, forcing Belgian keeper Coppens to make 10 saves compared with only 10 shots from Belgium. |
|
||
| ▪ U17-World Cup Preview | |||
| ▪ Bob Begins His Euro Quest | |||
| ▪ Denílson Finds the Hoops | |||
While Belgium defense did little to pressure the US defense throughout the first half, the US almost jumped out to a 1-0 lead in just the first minute.
Nimo was fouled at the corner of the area and Gregory Garza took the ensuing free kick that went over the Belgian defense landing at the US Captain Bates' feet right in front. The ball skirted away as the US Captain went down, trying to push his effort past Coppens but the BK was up to the task.
In the 13th Nimo dished off to Billy Schuler who played in for Ellis McLoughlin right down the middle. The highly touted forward one-timed it but Coppens made a great reaction save to keep the US off the board.
US netminder Josh Lambo almost made it onto the score sheet in the 22nd when his goal kick took one bounce that Coppens misjudged and was forced to tip over the bar.
Schuler made his way past three Belgian defenders in the box, finally beating Standard Liège youth prospect Rudy Ngombo but sent his shot wide right of the goal.
Belgium forward Christian Benteke earned his walking papers in the 37th following a reckless tackle on Williams. Referee Salvio Fagundes Filho was left with no choice to show the Lille protege the red card.
Just before the half, Schuler missed what should have been a goal when he got between the two defenders and had an open header from 6 yards, but he misjudged the ball and sent it way over the top when a downward header seemed to be a sure thing.
Although they had the man advantage from the beginning of the first half, the US had trouble early on creating any chances.
Hazard gave the US a scare in the 51st when he took a ball at midfield when Bates slipped. The Belgian striker fired from just next to the arc, but missed wide.
Nimo made a brilliant run past three Belgian defenders in the box in the 52nd only to see his shot deflect wide and the call for a goal kick, much to the dismay of the diminutive winger.
The United States took the lead when second half substitute Urso fired straight at Coppens who seemed to have done enough to stop the effort, but there was too much pepper for the Belgian to hang on and the US were finally on top.
Just a minute later Nimo chased down a ball in the box that he put clear of the keeper for McLoughlin to put on goal but Belgian defender Koen Hustinx was able to clear, with the referee properly waving off calls for a penalty.
Bates scored on a powerful header past Coppens off of a free kick from Garza in the 71st minute, to double the Americans' lead, jumping in front of Ngomba at the last minute to put a head on and double the US advantage.
After the US side had passed up several opportunities to shoot from distance, Urso finally decided to try his luck in the and fired a missile from just outside the box. Coppens made the diving stop and gave up the rebound, but no white shirts were around to clean up.
Nimo earned a free kick that Urso stepped up and fired again, hard at Coppens only to see the Belgian netminder make yet another diving stop.
Garza should've made it three for the United States in the 88th when he had all the time in the world to pick his spot after a Nimo cross from the right set him up seven yards from the target just to the left of the goal, but but the midfielder fired right at Coppens who smothered the shot.
Belgium's highly talented Eden Hazard almost took one back from the US in the 93rd minute when he forced Lambo to slide to his left to deflect the hard shot, and the US dodged the bullet.
On Thursday night, the United States take on Group F winner Germany, who routed Trinidad and Tobago Sunday night 5-0.
Scoring USA - Kirk Urso 1 (Jared Jeffrey) 63' USA - Josh Lambo, Sheanon Williams, Mykell Bates, Brandon Zimmerman (Abdusalam Ibre 60'), Danny Wenzel (Kirk Urso 46'), Jared Jeffrey, Greg Garza, Alex Nimo (Bryan Dominguez 93'), Billy Schuler, Ellis McLoughlin |
|||