Can someone who understands this game and who actually watched us lose 0-4 write what really happened Saturday? This sounds too nice
USA FALL TO THE NETHERLANDS IN FINAL GROUP D MATCH OF 2019 FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP
U.S. UNABLE TO OVERCOME
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS; FINISH FOURTH IN GROUP D
GOIANIA, Brazil (Nov. 2, 2019) –
The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team fell to the Netherlands, 0-4, in its final Group D match of the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup on Saturday night at Estádio da Serrinha. With the loss, the USA finished fourth in the group and will not advance to the knockout stage of the tournament.
The match was evenly played for large portions of the first half, but things came undone for the red, white and blue in the second after going down a goal just before the break. Netherlands forward Santje Hanson had a hand in three goals – scoring the first two and assisting on Mohamed Taabouni’s tally before Jayden Braaf closed out the scoring late.
The USA twice were inches from taking the lead within the first ten minutes of the game. At the seven-minute mark, U.S. right back Joe Scally pushed down the line and sent a driven cross into the box. Gio Reyna made an aggressive run towards the ball and sent a glancing, flicked header to the back post that went inches wide of goal.
Minutes later, the Netherlands defense headed away a USA corner that fell to the feet of Adam Saldana just outside the box. Saldana hit a low shot through the defense that also went just wide of goal.
The Netherlands, European champions, held strong and started to create their own chances. The breakthrough came just before the half when Hansen danced around at the top of the box before cutting to his left and tucking a shot just past the outstretched diving attempt by U.S. goalkeeper Chituru Odunze and into the near post.
The USA made two changes to start the second half and were more aggressive offensively right off the whistle. However, it was Jansen who opened the second-half scoring with a first-time shot from inside the box. The forward then turned to playmaker, taking a ball to the end line before finding Taabouni, who finished from four yards out.
In the 76th minute, Hansen again went at the USA defense and drew a penalty kick after being clipped by Bryang Kayo. Kenneth Taylor stepped up to shoot but was denied by a diving save from Odunze. The Netherlands finished the scoring in the dying minutes, with Jayden Braaf netting one from close range.
P.S. Netherlands is the supreme soccer Philosophy in the World of soccer and that's why we got our asses kicked. Netherlands is so good in fact, the USA (USSF) turned over Girls Youth Soccer to them. Maybe by surrendering to the Netherlands our female players will keep winning because the world is catching up and let's not forget, "The World is Watching."