Two goals in the last 10 minutes helped Tajikistan to a 4-3 win over the US in the first Group E game of the 2007 FIFA Under-17 World Cup on Monday.

The US went ahead after nine minutes when Mykell Bates headed in a corner kick from Greg Garza.

The lead lasted until the 32nd minute when a shot from Farkhod Vasiev took a deflection in defense to beat US keeper Zac MacMath. With two minutes to go of the half, Samad Shohzukhurov took full advantage of a flat cross from Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev to give the Tajiks the halftime lead.

The scoreline was leveled three minutes into the second half when a cross from Billy Schuler hit the crossbar and fell to Garza, who ran it across the goal line.

Five minutes later, an unmarked Schuler showed up to head in a corner kick from Alex Nimo on the left.

The Tajiks evened the score for a second time in the 82nd minute when Nuriddin Davronov sent a shot into the bottom left corner, out of MacMath's reach. With just four minutes to go, Fatkhuloev sent the ball floating over MacMath from the edge of the area to grab the win for his side.

On Thursday, the US face Tunisia, who beat Belgium 4-2 in their opener to take the lead in Group E.

Scoring
USA - Mykell Bates (Greg Garza) 9'
TJK - Farkhod Vasiev 32'
TJK - Samad Shohzukhurov (Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev) 43'
USA - Greg Garza (Billy Schuler) 48'
USA - Billy Schuler (Alex Nimo) 53'
TJK - Nuriddin Davronov 82'
TJK - Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev 86'

Line-ups
USA - Zac MacMath; Sheanon Williams, Mykell Bates, Danny Wenzel, Kofi Sarkodie, Jared Jeffrey, Bryan Dominguez (Ellis McLoughlin 86'), Greg Garza (Brandon Zimmerman 79'), Alex Nimo, Abdusalam Ibrahim (Brek Shea 72'), Billy Schuler

TJK - Farrukj Berdiev; Eradzh Radzhabov, Farkhod Vasiev, Kurbonali Sobirov (Nuriddin Davronov 81'), Buzurgmekhr Yusupov (Manuchehr Dzalilov), Samad Shohzukhurov, Davrondzhon Tukhtasunov, Farkhod Tokhirov (Abukayum Karabev 73'), Furug Qodirov, Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev, Isomiddin Qurbonov