Hosts Argentina shrugged off the doubts left in their debut and qualified for the last 16 of the U20 World Cup after beating Guatemala 3-0 during the second day of the youth tournament on Tuesday, which also saw the United States progress through the round . Ecuador joined the race.
La Albiceleste, seeking a seventh title in the category, opened the scoring after 17 minutes when winger Juan Gauto slotted in between two defenders of the Central American team at the Madre Stadium to head in Alejo Veliz’s cross from the left. . Ciudad de Santiago del Estero for Group A. It was the second goal for the Rosario Central striker in the tournament.
But Guatemala took the lead in the 22nd minute with a powerful left-footed shot by Carlos Santos from outside the box past local goalkeeper Federico Gómez Gerth.
After Santos was sent off in the 58th minute, Argentina spiced up their attack by bringing in Luca Romero. The winger, born in Mexico but nationalized Argentina, justified his entry with a cross shot from outside the area that hit the post after 65 minutes. This was his first official celebration with the Albiseleste jacket.
Manchester City’s Maximo Perron sealed the win in extra time after taking advantage of a rebound from the opponent goalkeeper after Ignacio Maestro Puch’s shot.
The perfect night for the locals was a mole with the expulsion of defender Tomás Avilés, on his debut in the Argentina jersey after playing the last South American match for Chile.
The Javier Mascherano-led team, which left few doubts on their debut with a 2–1 win over Uzbekistan, remained as sole leaders in their zone with six points, a harvest that would have ensured a place in the next round. Does
Mascherano said, “The attitude, the attitude and above all because the idea we tried to develop could be seen.” “At this age it is very difficult to analyze what is in two games … We will try to win our group and from there see what we play in the round of 16”.
Earlier, Uzbekistan came back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2–2 against New Zealand.
Benjamin Wallace opened the scoring for New Zealand after 23 minutes with a left-footed shot from outside the box.
After several minutes of siege by Uzbekistan, the Oceanian champions extended the lead with another shot from midrange. Jay Herdman was able to anticipate an opponent, adjust the ball and draw with a right-hander that went past goalkeeper Otabek Boymurodov in the 41st minute.
In the 51st minute, Ebosbek Fayzullayev got off with a right cross for the last Asian Emperor and Sherzod Asanov brought the Uzbeks back to life in extra time.
The other ticket in this group will be decided on Friday at the end of the first leg when New Zealand (4) face Argentina and Uzbekistan (1) face off against Guatemala, going out without points.
The United States found inspiration off the bench to break down Fiji’s stout defense and enter the top 16 in the tournament.
Midfielder Diego Luna, who entered as substitute, scored a goal and provided an assist in the CONCACAF champions’ 3-0 win for Group B at San Juan province’s Bicentenario Stadium on Tuesday. With a perfect score of six points, the Mickey Varas-led side earned the first ticket for the last 16.
Against the weakest opponent in their field, the United States took some time to come up with a formula for goals.
In the first half, forwards Quinn Sullivan and Cade Cowell missed several chances due to technical lapses in the Fiji defence.
The arrival of Luna and Niko Sakiris refreshed the American attack. The Real Salt Lake midfielder broke the deadlock with his right foot on the edge of the box in the 66th minute and then set up Cowell, who evaded an opponent and also slotted home with a shot from midrange.
Caleb Wiley, who came on for Darren Yappy, scored a timely third, finishing a Brandon Craig free kick with his feet that took the goalkeeper and hit the post.
Ecuador, which took a historic third place in the last World Cup in the category, recovered from a blow in the opening match against the United States and at times played at a high level to beat Slovakia 2-1, also in San Juan.
When Trai made enough qualifyings to take the lead, the European team found themselves on target without much intent. On 29 minutes, midfielder Mate Szolgai was received a few meters from the crescent of the area, nobody closed it and he fired a deadly right-hander.
But Ecuador achieved deserved parity just before the break with a touch, a wall and a first assist from jewel Cedry Paez for captain Justin Cuerpo, who deflected a left-footed cross.
The crossbar denied genius midfielder Carlos Zambrano from scoring in the 54th minute. In his own area, the Liga de Quito player saw the opposing goalkeeper move forward and finish off the goal.
Soon after, Paez also hit the crossbar. But the South American team did not lose faith and in the next game Jose Kilinder scored with a right-hander into the corner.
“This team needs the ball, but for that you have to be aggressive in pressing and today there was a group commitment from everyone to run and press. There were good tickets”, praised Ecuador’s strategist, Miguel Bravo.
Slovakia and Ecuador added three points, but the South Americans look better to qualify in the last game of the group round against eliminated Fiji. The Europeans will clash with the United States.
