SAN JUAN, Argentina (May perhaps 26, 2023) – The U.S. Below-20 Men’s Youth National Group topped Slovakia two- to safe the best spot in Group B at the FIFA U-20 Globe Cup with a fantastic nine points in 3 games. It is the initial time in the USA’s 17 appearances at the tournament that it is completed with a three– record in the group stage.

Forward Cade Cowell menaced the Sokoli defense all afternoon and opened the scoring in the 38th minute with an impressive person work, driving down the left flank previous a number of Slovakia defenders. His San Jose Earthquakes club teammate Niko Tsakiris netted an insurance coverage objective in the game’s final moments, as soon as once more producing an influence off the bench.  With the victory and initial location in Group B secured, the USA will face the third-location finisher from Group A, C or D in the Round of 16 on Tuesday, May perhaps 30 (1:30 p.m. ET FS2). All 3 groups will have concluded play on Saturday.

FIFA U-20 Globe CUP – FINAL GROUP B STANDINGS

TEAMS

W

L

D

GD

Pts.

USA

three

six

9

Ecuador

two

1

9

six

Slovakia

1

two

1

three

Fiji

three

-16

Soon after finding off on the front foot and holding the far better of possession from the get-go, the U.S. attack began to click midway by way of the initial half as the young Americans located themselves knocking on the door numerous occasions. The 24th minute brought the initial genuine danger in the aftermath of a U.S. corner as defender Justin Che place a header on frame and followed it up with an additional try inside the six off the rebound.

Cowell was normally the sparkplug for the U.S., producing a quantity of menacing runs down the left flank. In the 25th, he helped set up midfielder Obed Vargas for a rip outdoors the box that was deflected by goalkeeper Adam Hrdina prior to defender Caleb Wiley almost turned the rebound into the game’s initial objective.

The San Jose Earthquakes forward had a prime chance to open the scoring in the 28th minute, when he was sprung into some wide-open space by a masterful extended ball from center back Brandan Craig. Cowell took a touch to play it more than the ‘keeper at the best of the box and had an open net in front of him, but wasn’t in a position to handle the ball and the ensuing shot from midfielder Diego Luna flew more than the crossbar. Cowell then looked to have the USA’s opening objective in the 35th, but his work was whistled offside.

The winger additional than produced up for the misfires with his outstanding run and objective in the 38th. Pouncing on a misplayed Slovakia back pass, he proceeded to maneuver his way by way of the Sokoli defense, maintaining sturdy on the ball just after an initial tackle try, dodging a sliding defender and then wheeling previous a final pair of Slovakians at the best of the box prior to ripping a shot to the appropriate side of the net. Soon after missing the USA’s opening Globe Cup match vs. Ecuador due to suspension, Cowell has scored in each games because and is one particular of ten players in Argentina with numerous targets to his name. 

Slovakia responded shortly just after the opening tally, rocketing a shot from beyond the best of the box in the 41st, but U.S. goalkeeper Gaga Slonina was up to the activity and leapt to his appropriate to make the save. Slonina and the U.S. defense recorded their third-straight clean sheet in Argentina, finishing the group stage with just 23 shots permitted.

Cowell picked up exactly where he left off just after the half causing difficulties for the Slovak defense. In the 48th, he produced an additional threatening run down the left side prior to locating Luna charging into the six-yard box, but the midfielder’s initial-time shot hit the post. Luna hit the woodwork once more in the 67th, this time clanging it off the crossbar following an extended spell in Slovakia’s 18.

The Sokoli continued to appear for an equalizer down the stretch, but the U.S. place the game out of attain in the sixth minute of further time. Forward Quinn Sullivan located Tsakiris, as soon as once more a spark off the bench, cutting into the box, exactly where he controlled and slotted residence his fourth U-20 international objective.

More NOTES

• Cowell’s objective was his fourth in nine U-20 caps and second at the Globe Cup. Tsakiris’ tally was his fourth in seven U-20 appearances.
• Born in 2005, Tsakiris is the roster’s second-youngest player and also age-eligible for the 2025 FIFA U-20 Globe Cup. His father Shaun represented the U.S. at the 1999 U-20 Globe Cup and is an assistant coach with the U-20 MYNT.
• Goalkeeper Gaga Slonina and defender Brandan Craig have played all 270 minutes for the USA hence far in Argentina.

-U.S. Below-20 MEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL Group MATCH REPORT-

Match: United States Below-20 Men’s Youth National Group vs. Slovakia
Date: May perhaps 26, 2023
Competitors: 2023 FIFA U-20 Globe Cup – Group B
Venue: Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario San Juan, Argentina
Attendance: 15,059
Kickoff: two p.m. ET (three p.m. nearby)
Climate: 63 degrees, clear

Scoring Summary:   1          two          F

USA                            1          0          1
SVK                            0          0          0         

USA – Cade Cowell                                      38th minute
USA – Niko Tsakiris (Quinn Sullivan)       90+six

Lineups:

USA: 1-Gaga Slonina 17-Justin Che, five-Brandan Craig, four-Josh Wynder two-Michael Halliday, six-Daniel Edelman (Capt.) (eight-Jack McGlynn, 67), 18-Obed Vargas, three-Caleb Wiley (13-Jonathan Gomez, 77) 16-Owen Wolff (15-Niko Tsakiris, 67), ten-Diego Luna (19-Darren Yapi, 73), 9-Cade Cowell (7-Quinn Sullivan, 73)

Substitutes not employed: 12-Antonio Carrera, 21-Alex Borto, 14-Marcus Ferkranus

Head coach: Mikey Varas

SVK: 12-Adam Hrdina five-David Ovsonka, six-Sebastian Kosa (Capt.), 9-Adam Griger (ten-Timotej Jambor, 46), 11-Adam Gazi (7-Balint Csoka, 46), 14-Mate Szolgai (four-Jan Murgas, 68), 16-Leo Sauer, 17-Dominik Snajder, 18-Nicolas Sikula, 19-Samuel Kopasek (two-Simon Micuda, 75), 20-Mario Sauer (eight-Artur Gajdos, 46)

Substitutes not employed: 1-Samuel Belanik, 21-Adam Danko, three-Samuel Bagin, 13-Marek Ujlaky, 15-Nino Marcelli, 21-Adam Danko

Head coach: Albert Rusnak

Stats Summary: USA / SVK

Shots: 20/9
Shots on Purpose: eight/four
Saves: four/six
Corner Kicks: ten/six
Fouls: four/11
Offside: four/

Misconduct Summary:

None

Officials:

Referee: Ramon Abatti (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Rafael Alves (BRA)
Assistant Referee two: Guilherme Camilo (BRA)
Fourth Official: Ahmad Al Ali (KUW)
VAR: Rodolpho Toski Marques (BRA)
AVAR 1: Tatiana Guzman (NCA)