Tab Ramos: 'We have a lot of improvement to do'

• by Soccer America , Feb 27, 2013

[REACTION: USA-Canada] Tab Ramos was pleased how the USA reacted after falling behind Canada in Tuesday night's do-or-die quarterfinal at the Concacaf Under-20 Championship, but after the 4-2 win qualified the Americans for the 2013 Under-20 World Cup, the U.S. head coach admitted there was work to do.

“We really didn’t wake up until we were down 1-0," he said. "Even though Canada allowed us to have the ball, I thought we really weren’t creating opportunities. We have a lot of improvement to do, but at the end of the day we got the job done and I can’t take credit away from the players because I know how difficult it is to be on the field in a game like this.”

Dylan Carreiro put Canada ahead in the 25th minute, but Luis Gil equalized four minutes later.

“They got an early goal on us and I felt like the reaction from the guys was great," said Gil. "We didn’t let down and we didn’t fold. We got that quick goal back and from there it just took off. It was a good test for us because we hadn’t been put in this situation before in this tournament. We handled it well.”

Midfielder Wil Trapp, whose goal completed a three-goal blitz that put the USA ahead 3-1 at the half, said the Canada goal was a wakeup call.

“I think being down 1-0 woke us up a little bit," he said. "And you could see on the field the three goals right after they scored. That’s the response that we needed and that’s what we got.”

The USA came in as the favorite, but Canada had won their only meeting in the current cycle, a 2-1 win in Marbella, Spain, last year.

“We kind of knew we had a lot more to show the crowd and all you guys," said Jose Villarreal, who led the USA with two goals. "It was good that we got the four goals and it gives momentum to the team. It was a good win for us.”