U-20 Men's National Team Advances To Quarterfinals With 2-1 Win Against Uruguay
7/12/2007 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
July 12, 2007
TORONTO, Canada - The United States U-20 National Team defeated Uruguay, 2-1, in overtime in the Round of 16 of the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup yesterday in front of a sold out audience at the National Soccer Stadium. Former Maryland star Robbie Rogers earned his fourth start in the tournament while keeper Chris Seitz had to sit out due to an injury sustained against Brazil.
With the win, the Americans earned their fourth trip to the quarterfinals and will face Austria which defeated Gambia last night, 2-1. That match will be played on Saturday, July 14 in Toronto and can be seen live on ESPNU at 2:15 p.m.
After a scoreless first half, Uruguay struck first in the 74th minute when a cross sent into the box found Edinson Cavani who headed a shot toward goal. Brian Perk, filling in for Seitz, made the save but let a rebound go to his left. Luis Suarez made a run to the loose ball and blasted a shot into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
With time dwindling down in regulation, the US battled back and forced the Uruguayans into an own goal in the 88th minute. The Americans earned a corner kick that Freddy Adu launched into the box. Danny Szetela got to the ball and fired a shot from a hard angle from about six yards out. The ball dribbled in right in front of the goal line and Mathias Cardaccio and Andre Akpan from the US got to the ball. Cardaccio went into a slide to try and get the ball out but ended up redirecting it into his own net for the Americans' equalizer.
The first 15 minute overtime session ended up with no result but the second frame saw the Americans go ahead just two minutes in. In the 107th minute, the US got a corner kick that Adu sent into the box again. The in-swinger was punched out by the Uruguay keeper but landed on the feet of Julian Valentin. Valentin played the ball toward the right side of the goal where a waiting Michael Bradley notched the game-winner.
The Americans are still undefeated with a record of 3-0-1 in the World Cup. After tying Korea Republic, 1-1, in the opener of group play, the US bounced back to dominate Poland, 6-1. In their last match in Group D, Seitz came up with 14 saves as the Americans held on to beat Brazil, 2-1, on July 6.
Rogers has assisted on two goals in the World Cup, both coming in the win against Poland, while Seitz has recorded 22 saves in three matches during group play which comes out to 7.33 saves a match.
