Five things we learned about U.S. U-17s

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Jun 22, 2011

[UNDER-17 WORLD CUP] Here are five things we learned about the USA, 2-1 loser to Uzbekistan in their Group D game at the Under-17 World Cup in Torreon, Mexico ...

Shadows of themselves. So much for the enterprising, crisp play that marked Sunday's 3-0 win over the Czech Republic. Wilmer Cabrera's U-17s -- the same starting XI that disposed of the Czechs -- were shadows of themselves.

Carroll has nightmare. Towering Zach Carroll, inserted into the starting lineup since qualifying and so confident in the opening game against the Czech Republic, was at fault on both goals. He failed to clear a ball in the air and was beaten to the ball by Timur Khakimov, who laid it off to Bobir Davlatov, who scored from outside the area. On the second goal, Carroll needlessly took down Abbosbek Makhstaliev, who converted the penalty himself.

Koroma is manchild. Alfred Koroma is listed at 6-foot, 160 pounds, but he plays much bigger than that. For the second game in a row, he came off the bench and instantly scored a great individual goal, brushing aside his marker and scoring the USA's short-lived equalizer.

Where was Guido? A lot of was expected of Alejandro Guido, the U.S. playmaker who was raised in Tijuana but schooled on the San Diego side of the border. He played well against the Czechs but was a non-factor against Uzbekistan and subbed out late in the game.

Cut out the whining. An unfortunate part of the American game is the habit of players to whine when things go wrong. Against Uzbekistan, you saw far too much complaining by the U.S. U-17s when they only had themselves to blame for being outhustled all afternoon.

June 22 in Torreon
USA 1 Uzbekistan 2. Goals: Koroma 47; Davlatov 13, Makhstliev pen. 54.
USA -- McIntosh, Acosta, Fehr, Carroll, Amon (Smith, 46), E.Rodriguez (Koroma, 46), Dunn, Guido (Melo, 82), Pelosi, M.Rodriguez, Arriola.
Uzbekistan -- Kholmurodov, Rakhmanov, Haydarov (Jurabaev, 90), Mansurov, Makhstliev, Muratov, Sabirkhodjaev, Kholmurodov (Yarbekov, 60), Davlatov, Mirabdullaev, T.Khakimov (Ubaydullaev, 82).
Yellow Cards: USA -- Amon 34, Carroll 57, Fehr 57; Ukbekistan -- T.Khakimov 51.