By Mike Woitalla
Two years ago, in qualifying play for the 2015 U-17 World Cup, the USA, then coached by Richie Williams, faced Jamaica twice. In group play, theAmericans lost to the Reggae Boyz, 1-0.
The rematch came in a playoff with a World Cup berth at stake. The USA again failed to score against the Jamaicans and after a 0-0 tie, American starChristian Pulisic stepped up first in the penalty kick shootout. His shot was saved by goalkeeper Jahmali Waite, but the next five U.S. shooters converted while twoJamaicans shot high and wide.
Had the shootout gone the other way, the USA would have missed the U-17 World Cup for a second straight time, as Williams’ team had failed to qualify forthe 2013 World Cup.
Before that, the USA was the only nation that qualified for all 14 of the biennial U-17 World Cups.
John Hackworth, who had coached the USA at the2005 and 2007 World Cups, returned to the post, replacing Williams, who failed to the get USA out of the first round at the 2015 World Cup.
Unseeded at the 2017 Concacaf U-17 Championship, theUSA was drawn into a four-team first-round group with two-time defending champion Mexico, which at the last three U-17 World Cups finished fourth (2015), runner-up (2013) and champion (2011). Beinggrouped with Mexico made it crucial for the USA to pick up a win Sunday’s opening game against Jamaica.
And Hackworth’s team came through big time, routing the Reggae Boyz, 5-0. Itfaces Mexico, a 6-0 winner over El Salvador, on Wednesday (6:30 pm ET; Univision Deportes, Concacaf YouTube) and El Salvador, whichhas yet to qualify for a U-17 World Cup, on Saturday. The top two group finishers advance to the second round, from which four of six teams will earn spots at the 2017 U-17 World Cup in India.
Against Jamaica, Ayo Akinola scored two of the USA’s five goals, all of which came in the second half.
“I thought we were fantastic, especially in the second half,”said Akinola, who also got an assist. “In the first half we didn’t play to our expectations or our style. In the second half … our coach talked to us about some game plans and sometactics, and we actually put them into action. So I’m very proud.”
In a first half in which the Americans outshot Jamaica, 8-3, ReggaeBoyz goalkeeper Tajay Griffiths stopped shots by Blaine Ferri and Akinola — and Andrew Carleton‘s 22nd-minute penalty kick.
The USA finallybeat Griffiths in the 53rd minute when Chris Durkin headed George Acosta‘s in-swinging corner kick into the net from six yards.
Timothy Weah,a 65th-minute sub for Carleton, made it 2-0 by tapping in an Akinola pass in the 77th minute. Weah had fed Akinola, who juked Shane Ricketts before delivering the return pass.
The final three goals came within seven minutes, beginning with Josh Sargent, who stretched his leg to poke the ball Kendall Edwards was trying to shield paststranded Griffiths in the 87th minute.
Sargent set up Akinola’s first goal, a low drive inside the near post, in the 88th minute. Two minutes into stoppage time, Akinola hammered home alow half-volley from 22 yards.
Results: Concacaf U-17 World CupQualifying
• Four of five USA-based Jamaican players saw action against the USA on Sunday: Kendall Edwards, a Georgia-born Atlanta United academy defender,Virginia-born Damani Osei (Richmond United/Cosby High School), Jeremy Verley, who left Jamaica for the Milton Academy in Boston in last year, and CobyAtkins, who attends American Heritage School in Florida.
April 23 in Panama City
USA 5 Jamaica 0.
Goals: Durkin (Acosta) 53, Weah (Akinola) 77, Sargent (Lindsey) 87, Akinola (Sargent) 88, Akinola 92+.
USA — Garces; Lindsey, Gloster, Sands, Vasquez; Durkin,Ferri (Vassilev, 88), Acosta (Goslin, 76); Akinola, Sargent, Carleton (Weah, 65).
Jamaica — Griffiths; Osei, Topey (Edwards, 63), Mullings (Thompson, 61), Gibbons, Ricketts;Verley, Atkinson, Lyons; Parris, Senior (McIntosh, 46).
Referee: Adrian Skeete (Barbados)
Stats: USA/Jamaica
Shots:22/7
Shots on target: 10/4
Saves: 4/5
Corner Kicks: 10/1
Fouls: 6/11
Offside: 3/2
Yellow cards: USA — A.J. Vasquez 47+; Jamaica — Gibbons 83.
Atlas’ Torres shines for Mexico
• Ian Jairo Torres helped create three goals in Mexico’s 6-0 rout of El Salvador. Torres, who turns 17 inJuly, has already made a Liga MX appearance, playing 45 minutes last November for Atlas against Jaguares. His debut was celebrated in Mexico for being the first Liga MX appearance by a player born inthis millennium. The Guadalajara native, at 16 years, 4 months and 14 days, had become the sixth youngest player to see Liga MX action.
Daniel Lopez, who scored twice,plays for Tijuana Xolos U-20 team. He debuted for the first team in a friendly at the LA Galaxy in February.