- Josh Sargent ties USA all-time goals record at U-20 World Cup
- Stars and Stripes top 4-0 result vs New Zealand in 2015
- USA face Venezuela in quarter-finals on 4 June in Jeonju
USA have cruised into the quarter-finals at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 with a 6-0 victory over New Zealand in Incheon.
Josh Sargent scored his fourth of the tournament, tying Jozy Altidore (2007), Eddie Johnson (2003) and Taylor Twellman’s (1999) joint USA record for most goals at the U-20 finals. Sargent’s goal came with a bit of luck as Justen Glad’s initial volley from a corner kick took a slight deflection off the St. Louis-native’s shin before going in.
Portland Timbers forward Jeremy Ebobisse doubled Tab Ramos’ side’s lead in the second half with a thunderous strike from a Sargent knock-down header. Brooks Lennon then scored with a precise finish into the bottom corner after Eryk Williamson found him with a brilliantly weighted through ball.
Glad eventually got his goal, too. The Real Salt Lake defender found open space in the penalty area on a corner kick and steered Lennon’s delivery on target with his head, leaving New Zealand goalkeeper Michael Woud with little time to react and establishng an insurmountable lead for the US.
Another defender then got in on the goalscoring act. Auston Trusty scored directly from a corner with a left-footed effort any striker would be proud of. His strike sailed into the opposite, top corner.
Lagos Kunga completed the rout when he scored in stoppage time with a low, left-foot shot into the bottom corner following an intricate pass from Luca de la Torre.
The Stars and Stripes will now compete in the quarter-finals of the U-20 World Cup for a second consecutive edition, with Venezuela their last-eight opponents in Jeonju on 4 June.
Story courtesy of FIFA