The USA's under-17 boys national team finished third in its group at an eight-team international team in South Korea when it beat New Zealand, 1-0, Thursday on a goal by Brek Shea.

The Americans had lost their first two games to Japan (1-0 on a goal in the 90th minute) and Nigeria (2-1). Nigeria, a 5-0 winner over Japan in the group finale, and Brazil won the two groups.

Haiti, which flew to the tournament after the much-publicized disappearance of a majority of its players during a layover in New York, lost all three games by shutout.

Only the top two teams in each group moved into placement games. The tournament was held in preparation for the Under-17 World Cup, which begins Aug. 18 in South Korea.

GAME SUMMARIES:
June 17 in Gwangwang
Japan 1 USA 0. Goals: Tsukasa 90.
USA -- MacMath, Williams, Bates, Meyer, Shea, Wenzel, Jeffrey (Ibrahim, 65), Nimo (Levry, 81), Garza, Schuler, McLoughlin (King, 90).

June 19 in Changwon
Nigeria 2 USA 1. Goals: Bolaji 11, 56; Nimo 49.
USA -- MacMath, Williams (King, 69), Turk (Jeffrey, 46), Bates, Meyer, Klute, Wenzel (Zimmerman, 80), Ibrahim, Garza (McLoughlin, 46), Millington (Nimo, 46), Schuler.

June 21 in Ulsan
USA 1 New Zealand 0. Goal: Shea 30.
USA -- Lambo, Williams, Bates, Meyer, Klute, Jeffrey (Paredes, 46), McLoughlin (Dixon, 67), Ibrahim (Shea, 27), Garza, Dominguez, Schuler.