United States U-20 MNT vs. Saudi Arabia U-20 MNT
2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup | Group F – Game 3 of 3
Sunday, May 25, 4 a.m. CT | FS1, Telemundo
Daejeon World Cup Stadium | Daejeon, Korea Republic
Sporting Kansas City defender Erik Palmer-Brown and the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team enter their 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup group stage finale on Sunday knowing a win or a draw against Saudi Arabia will be enough to secure a top-two finish in Group F and progression to the Round of 16 next week. Kickoff from Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon, Korea Republic is set for 4 a.m. CT on FS1 and Telemundo.
The United States currently sit atop the group with four points through two games, having defeated Senegal 1-0 on Thursday after opening the competition with a wild 3-3 draw against Ecuador on Monday. Palmer-Brown wore the captain's armband and played the full 90 minutes in both games, but had a different center back partner in Thursday's shutout effort as Tottenham Hotspur defender Cameron Carter-Vickers returned from injury to make his tournament debut.
Head coach Tab Ramos' men are assured of a first-place finish in Group F if they defeat Saudi Arabia, and a variety of scenarios could even see the U.S. finish second or third with a loss and still advance to the Round of 16.
“We know that we control our own destiny,” Ramos told U.S. Soccer. “If we win the next game, we are first in the group. That doesn’t happen very often, so we’ll be happy to do that.”
2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup - Group F Table
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>Pts</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>T</strong> |
<strong>GF</strong> |
<strong>GA</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
United States |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
+1 |
Senegal |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
+1 |
Saudi Arabia |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
-1 |
Ecuador |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
-1 |
Saudi Arabia opened their World Cup campaign with a 2-0 loss to Senegal, but atoned for the setback with a 2-1 upset win over Ecuador on Thursday to move up to third place. The Green Falcons would secure a spot in the Round of 16 with a victory over the Americans.
While Palmer-Brown has anchored the U.S. backline, 17-year-old forward Josh Sargent has continued his meteoric rise on the offensive end. The Missouri native has bagged three goals over the last two matches, including a brace against Ecuador and the game-winner that gave the U-20s all three points against Senegal. Heading into Sunday, Sargent is one goal behind Venezuela's Sergio Cordova for the tournament's Golden Boot lead. He is one shy of tying Taylor Twellman (1999), Eddie Johnson (2003) and Jozy Altidore (2007) of equaling the U.S. record of four goals at a single U-20 World Cup.
2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Group Pairings:
- Group A: Korea Republic (host), Guinea, Argentina, England
- Group B: Venezuela, Germany, Vanuatu, Mexico
- Group C: Zambia, Portugal, Iran, Costa Rica
- Group D: South Africa, Japan, Italy, Uruguay
- Group E: France, Honduras, Vietnam, New Zealand
- Group F: USA, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Senegal
U.S. U-20 MNT’s Group F Schedule:
- May 22, 3 a.m. CT: USA 3-3 Ecuador; Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon
- May 25, 6 a.m. CT: USA 1-0 Senegal; Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon
- May 28, 4 a.m. CT: USA vs. Saudi Arabia; Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon
U.S. U-20 MNT 2017 World Cup Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jonathan Klinsmann (University of California; Newport Beach, Calif.), J.T. Marcinkowski (Georgetown; Alamo, Calif.), Brady Scott (De Anza Force; Petaluma, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (7): Danny Acosta (Real Salt Lake; Salt Lake City, Utah), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur FC; Westcliff-on-Sea, England), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake; Tucson, Ariz.), Aaron Herrera (University of New Mexico; Las Cruces, N.M.), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City; Lee's Summit, Mo.), Tommy Redding (Orlando City SC; Oviedo, Fla.), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union; Media, Pa.)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls; Wappingers Falls, N.Y.), Luca de la Torre (Fulham FC; San Diego, Calif.), Derrick Jones (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Eryk Williamson (University of Maryland; Alexandria, Va.), Gedion Zelalem (Arsenal FC; Bethesda, Md.)
FORWARDS (6): Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers; Bethesda, Md.), Lagos Kunga (Atlanta United FC Academy; Tucker, Ga.) Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake; Paradise Valley, Ariz.), Emmanuel Sabbi (Unattached; Columbus, Ohio), Josh Sargent (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; O'Fallon, Mo.), Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake; Park City, Utah)
Gedion Zelalem suffered a knee injury during the USA’s opening match against Ecuador and has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament.
