The US Youth List showed its promise, and that was enough for now.
Nicolas Giacchini and Sebastian Soto scored their first international goals in the match that ended 6-2 against Panama on Monday night in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, the second of two matches for the Americans after the epidemic was interrupted for 10 months.
Geo Reina scored his first goal three days after his 18th birthday, and he is the third youngest player to score in modern times.
Sebastian Leggett also scored in an open physical match against a contender from CONCACAF who reached the 2018 World Cup at the expense of the Americans.
“All we wanted to do from the start was to get the fans to our side.” It was an important step for us, “said Greg Berhalter, the US coach.” People are excited to watch. “
Ten months before qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, there was a lot to savor, although the level is hard to compare to the level of a competitive match.
“We are all hungry to play, we are all hungry to start, and we are all hungry to prove and show what we made,” said Gioacchini, a 20-year-old striker in his second season with the first team in second place. Class Caen in France.
Reina advanced in Borussia Dortmund last season after starring with the 2019 U-17 team, and father Claudio Reina and mom Daniel Egan played for the United States.
Soto excelled in the U-20 World Cup last year and is second division Telstar in the Netherlands. Debut with Richie Ledisma, the 20-year-old midfielder who made his debut for PSV on November 1; And Chris Richards, the 20-year-old defender who made his debut at Bayern Munich on 20 June.
Only Christian Pulisic (17 years old, 253 days in 2016), who missed this match due to a hamstring injury, and Juan Agudelo (17 years old, 359 days in 2010) scored at a younger age.
“You can still see a lot of times we’ve only been together for a week. But I think you’ve also seen some really good things.” It’s just slowly getting this group together. By the time we qualify, we will be ready to compete. “
Jose Fajardo scored his first two goals for Panama. He defeated goalkeeper Zach Stephen in the eighth minute with a lightning header after a cross from Alejandro Yerwood split center back Tim Ream and Matt Miazja, then narrowed the gap to 3-2 in the 79th minute with a 12-yard shot with the left foot. From a pass from Omar Brown.
The United States dominated the first half with a 72% possession and finished with an 8-15 advantage on shots, though they struggled to create most of the second half.
Reina equalized in the 17th minute with a free kick from 19 yards, a single jump that went to the left of 1st goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera after Weston McKinney was stumbled by Michael Morello.
Gioacchini put the United States ahead in the 22nd minute with a right-footed shot from 8 yards after Reina crossed over to Ole Linz, whose Mosquera shot from 12 yards.
Jiwachini got his second goal with a header from a short distance in the 26th minute after a Tyler Adams cross, Miazga headed the ball into the net. He had a chance to score a hat-trick in the 65th minute but scored a penalty kick in Mosquera after a handball against Oscar Linton.
Soto entered the 77th minute and scored with a header from 6 yards from a Litgate cross after an interfering run by Reggie Cannon, who started off at right-back when Sergio Diest moved to the left. Cannon sent Lilletgate’s short header again in the 87th minute, his third international goal, and Leidisa hit a long, rounded cross for Soto in the first minute of stoppage time.
The United States has used 90 players since the October 2017 defeat in Trinidad and Tobago eliminated Americans from the 2018 World Cup, including 52 debut appearances. The average starting lineup was 22 years old, 154 days old, the second youngest US lineup after an average of 22 years, 71 days to show in Italy on November 20, 2018.
Younes Moussa, the Valencia midfielder who turns 18 on November 29, became the first American man to start several matches before his 18th birthday. He is also eligible to play for England.
“We had a little taste of what CONCACAF teams would be against us,” said Reina. “We all just think about this game and we’re happy. The guys made their starts and scored goals. In general, just a good night.”
Notes: Berhalter said on Monday that the United States may schedule another match next month, which is supposed to be with players mostly from the NFL.
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