U17WC: Germans End US Dreams

by Sean O'Conor - August 30, 2007

 
▪ U17WC: US Plays Leapfrog

The US U-17 Men's World Cup dream came to an end on Thursday as they were beaten 2-1 by Germany in Cheonan, South Korea.

John Hackworth's team was under the cosh for most of the 90, firing five shots on target to Germany's 10.

German striker Richard Sukuta-Pasu opened the scoring in the 65th minute before adding a second a minute from time from a breakaway as the US pressed for an equalizer.

US skipper Mykell Bates pulled one back deep into injury time in the 92nd minute, but it was too little too late to stop a third consecutive American exit in the second round of the U-17 tournament.

Kirk Urso, author of the game winner against Belgium, started up top in place of the suspended Billy Schuler, and drew a good stop from German goalkeeper Rene Vollath with a free kick four minutes before halftime.

But it was US goalie Josh Lambo who scooped the Man of the Match award after a busy shift between the posts keeping the Germans at bay with eight key saves in front of a crowd of 15,069.

"They put us under all sorts of pressure before we threw everything at them right at the end," said Hackworth.

"It's a shame we couldn't turn in the kind of performance we're capable of, but my team showed heart and character. The Germans have a very powerful team and ultimately deserved to win."

Germany advance to play England in the quarterfinals, while the US fly home with a 1-3 record. Bates' consolation strike was his third goal of the tournament for the States, while compatriots Greg Garza, Jared Jeffrey and Schuler finished the competition with a goal apiece.

Scoring
GER – Richard Sukuta-Pasu (Toni Kroos) 65'
GER – Richard Sukuta-Pasu (Toni Kroos) 89'
USA – Mykell Bates 90+2'

Line-ups
USA - Josh Lambo; Sheanon Williams, Mykell Bates, Tommy Meyer, Brandon Zimmerman, Danny Wenzel (Danny Cruz 83'), Jared Jeffrey, Greg Garza (Abdusalam Ibrahim 46’), Alex Nimo, Kirk Urso (Bryan Dominguez 75'), Ellis McLoughlin

GER - Rene Vollath; Jonas Strifler, Nils Teixeira, Konstantin Rausch, Kevin Wolze, Richard Sukuta-Pasu,(Alexander Esswein 94'), Toni Kroos, Dennis Dowidat, Sebastian Rudy, Mario Erb, Sascha Bigalke (Henning Sauerbier 91')

▪ US Ladies School Finland
▪ Bombs Away!
 

 

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