A free-kick goal with six minutes left in overtime gave South Korea a 2-1 win in the U-17 AIFF Youth Cup final in India over the USA, which played the final 65 minutes a man down.
The final was arematch of a 0-0 tie between the two teams in group play of the tournament in which the USA notched wins over Malaysia and India and tied Tanzania. Andrew Carlton (Georgia United)equalized for the USA – on the rebound of his saved penalty kick — 17 minutes after the Koreans had taken a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute. But a red card to George Acosta in the55th minute after an off-the-ball incident had the USA playing short-handed for more than an hour in 95-degree heat.
According to the IndiaTimes, “Had it not been for the player disadvantage, United States could have probably nicked it in regulation time itself. They were clearly the better side and, despite the early setback,were in control of the proceedings.”
The U.S. U-17s have reached final of all three tournaments they’ve taken part in this year. In January, the USA fell to host Turkey at theAegean Cup. It beat host France to win the 44th International Montaigu Tournament in March.
May 25 in Goa, India
USA 1 South Korea2. Goals: Carleton 32; Lee Hakseon 15, Jeon Seugmin 114.
USA — Budnik; Gloster (Lemoine, 116), McGann, Shaver, Vasquez; Durkin, Goslin (Sands, 102), Acosta; Carleton,Sargent (Ferri, 46), Akinola.
South Korea — Park Jimin; Minhyeok, Kim Jusung, Ko Junhee, Kim Taehwan; Son Jaehyeok, Yong Donghyun (Chaewoon, 97), Park Jeongin (Seungmin, 41);Lee Hakseon (Shin Sangwhi, 90), Cheon Seonghoon, Park Chanbin.
Red card: George Acosta (USA) 55.