U20 World Cup

The youngsters off to a great start down in Chile. 9-1 (not a typo) win over New Caledonia (had to look it up, island nation in the Coral Sea near Fiji). Will obviously have a big jump in competition w/France on Thursday, and finishing group play w/South Africa on Sunday.

 

WooHoo!! A 0-0 scoreline in the 85th minute turned into a 3-0 victory for the younguns over France. Knockout round clinched, match report:

https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/736142

 

I saw most of both these matches. I was really hoping for ten goals on Monday and am happy that the keeper came back strong today after giving away the goal to New Caledonia.

So much of today’s match took place with both teams possessing the ball in their own half. Not many chances for either side through the first three quarters. Then with a spot in the knockouts on the line, both of them turned it up a notch. The USA had the better of the chances and finally found the breakthrough through a couple of substitutes (sounds a bit like Fulham). The right winger broke in behind the defense and floated a sweet pull back cross to an unmarked attacker who nodded the ball in with ease. Then the flood gates opened and the American’s piled two more goals in before the final whistle stopped their momentum.

Only concern is that one of the only players I knew before the tournament, Cremaschi (from his time at Inter Miami), went down with a leg issue and was subbed off a few minutes later. He wanted to stay in so either the injury is not a concern or his youthful exuberance was getting the best of him.