
<p>The USA is, yet again, into the U20 World Cup quarterfinal. The Americans got there via a comfortable 4-0 win over New Zealand on Tuesday. This was the best performance for the young American side, usurping that title from a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/us-dominates-fiji-in-u20-world-cup-group-stage-win-20230523-WST-434305.html">3-0 win over Fiji</a> in group-stage play. Tuesday’s win maintained a perfect defensive record, as well. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/late-gomez-goal-gives-u-s-win-in-u20-world-cup-opener-20230520-WST-433961.html">Ecuador failed to score in the opener</a>, and Slovakia could not find a breakthrough on matchday three.</p>



<p>The United States was, perhaps, surprised to score the first goal. Given its success in the U20 World Cup thus far, scoring has been no issue. Six goals in three games is a strong return. However, the 14th-minute opener against New Zealand was one of the more unexpected. After picking up the ball 25 yards from goal, Owen Wolff, a midfielder for Austin FC, released a shot on net. </p>



<p>It took the ball a full second to reach the New Zealand net as it rolled along the ground. While the All Whites’ goalkeeper Kees Sims looked likely to save, he retracted his hands thinking it was going wide. However, it slid inside the keeper’s righthand post, giving the USYNT a lead.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">THERE IT IS! <br><br>It&apos;s an ambitious effort from <a href="https://twitter.com/AustinFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AustinFC</a>&apos;s Owen Wolff that opens the scoring for the <a href="https://twitter.com/USYNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USYNT</a> 👏 <a href="https://t.co/ejW0ly7eet">pic.twitter.com/ejW0ly7eet</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1663603908735021063?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>That goal began a period of dominance for the United States. One of those chances was a deflection off the crossbar. </p>



<p>In total, by the end of the first 45 minutes, Michael Varas’s American outfit had three-fourths of the possession. That led to a spell of phenomenal chances at the end of the first half. Diego Luna made a terrific run through the midfield that produced a corner. On the following scramble, Daniel Edelman forced a strong save out of Sims on a volley from distance. The final chance was on a clipped cross from the right side. However, the American shot in the goal-mouth went wide.</p>



<h2>USA into another U20 World Cup quarterfinal with second-half display</h2>



<p>The United States continued that unfortunate trend just minutes into the second half. More well-worked play in the New Zealand end almost set up a goal. Caleb Wiley was in behind the defense, and he passed the ball into the middle for Jonathan Gómez. However, Gómez, who is in the Real Sociedad system, <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1663617692958437379" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">touched his shot wide</a> of the gaping goal.</p>



<p>The United States finally cashed in via the only player with multiple goals in the side at this tournament. Cade Cowell, who entered the game with goals in back-to-back games, fired a left-footed shot on the floor from inside the box. He dragged it across a helpless Sims. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HE&apos;S CLINICAL 🇺🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/SJEarthquakes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SJEarthquakes</a>&apos; Cade Cowell tucks it away for the <a href="https://twitter.com/USYNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USYNT</a> and doubles the United States&apos; lead! <a href="https://t.co/x6I54WrS6K">pic.twitter.com/x6I54WrS6K</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1663620639331106818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Justin Che made it three not long after. Another strong run through the midfield from Diego Luna led to an odd-man rush for the United States. Cade Cowell, one on one with Sims, went wide. With his angle to goal shut, the San Jose Earthquakes talent squared the ball. <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1663624497293828103" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Che was the one to pounce on the loose ball</a>, slamming it into the New Zealand net with 15 minutes left in the 90. Rokas Pukštas&nbsp;made it four six minutes later. A free kick swooping in from the left side met the 18-year-old’s head, who simply had to get it on target.</p>



<p>The win punches the USYNT into the quarterfinals of the U20 World Cup for the fourth-straight year. In each instance, though, the United States lost in the last eight. The Americans will play the winner of Thursday’s game between Uruguay and Gambia. </p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire</em></p>


The USA is, yet again, into the U20 World Cup quarterfinal. The Americans got there via a comfortable 4-0 win over New Zealand on Tuesday.

USA wins to reach fourth-straight U20 World Cup quarterfinal


<p>With the U-20 World Cup starting later this month, the US named its 21-man squad for the tournament in Argentina. It features some familiar names to even casual USMNT fans, with six players already earning call-ups to the senior squad. Gaga Slonina, Caleb Wiley, Justin Che, Joshua Wynder and Cade Cowell all earned call-ups. Many came during the Continental Clasico or the friendlies at the beginning of the calendar year.</p>



<p>On top of that, a number of these players contributed to the USYNT’s qualification for this tournament. The US qualified for the U-20 World Cup by winning last summer’s CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Honduras. That was the third-straight triumph for the United States in that tournament.</p>



<p>Impressively, the players represent 17 clubs. Ten of those are from Major League Soccer, including three players from Philadelphia Union and two from the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes, each. Moreover, six players represent clubs in Europe. Those clubs are Fulham, Chelsea, Hoffenheim, Wolfsburg, Real Sociedad and Hajduk Split. The last of those is Rokas Pukstas, who helped Hajduk Split to the UEFA Youth League Final.</p>



<p>One big miss is Paxten Aaronson, brother of Leeds United and USMNT senior squad midfielder Brenden. Paxten Aaronson’s club, Eintracht Frankfurt, denied US Soccer’s <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/usmnt-prospect-paxten-aaronson-wont-participate-u20-world-cup-frankfurt/blt71df5a2845f42544" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">request to release the player</a> for the U-20 World Cup squad.  The reason is that the World Cup, which runs from May 20 through June 11, directly overlaps with the end of Eintracht Frankfurt’s season. While Aaronson is not quite a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/paxten-aaronson-brenden-frankfurt-bundesliga-e285083b03681f9793302db452808ec3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regular first-team starter</a>, the chances of injuries played a role in the club’s decision. With three games left in the Bundesliga season, the club sits in ninth. However, it is also in the DFB-Pokal Final against RB Leipzig.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝗨.𝗦. against the world 🌎💪<br><br>Head coach Mikey Varas has called up 21 players to represent the 🇺🇸 at the U-20 <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIFAWorldCup</a> in Argentina! ≫ <a href="https://t.co/3ZgQoIB5aW">https://t.co/3ZgQoIB5aW</a> <a href="https://t.co/vQsmiJZuwd">pic.twitter.com/vQsmiJZuwd</a></p>— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/USYNT/status/1656344256225607700?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>US U-20 World Cup squad and tournament opponents</h2>



<p>The first part of the U-20 World Cup is the group stage. The United States is with Ecuador, Fiji and Slovakia. After the three-game round-robin, the top two teams automatically advance to the round of 16. Then, the top four third-place teams qualify, too. </p>



<h5>Goalkeepers</h5>



<p>Alex Borto (Fulham), Antonio Carrera (FC Dallas), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea).</p>



<h5>Defenders</h5>



<p>Justin Che (Hoffenheim), Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union), Mauricio Cuevas (LA Galaxy), Marcus Ferkranus (LA Galaxy), Jonathan Gomez (Real Sociedad), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United), Joshua Wynder (Louisville City FC).</p>



<h5>Midfielders</h5>



<p>Daniel Edelman (New York Red Bulls), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split), Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes), Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders), Owen Wolff (Austin FC).</p>



<h5>Forwards</h5>



<p>Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Darren Yapi (Colorado Rapids).</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Schowrer Pressefoto</em></p>


The US Youth National Team announced its squad for the upcoming U-20 World Cup in Argentina that starts in May.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Youth National Team"

U-20 World Cup

USA wins to reach fourth-straight U20 World Cup quarterfinal

U-20 World Cup

US Youth National Team names squad for U-20 World Cup