Colombia save their best for the last with a sensational victory against the United States of America in their final league match.
John Hackworth, coach of the United States of America soccer team, hoped to extend his stay in Navi Mumbai by topping Group A. But, as it turned out, they suffered their first defeat of the tournament, a 1-3 thrashing by Colombia on Thursday night at the DY Patil Stadium to force a three-way tie in this group.
With six points each, Ghana, Colombia and USA finish in that order. But, the team from Africa have a better goal difference of plus-4 following their 4-0 win over India in New Delhi at the same time as Colombia won against USA.
Colombia and USA were tied on goal difference too, plus-2 but the head-to-head result forced the South Americans to pip US for the second place.
Hence, Ghana will play their pre-quarterfinal in Navi Mumbai on October 18 at 5pm while Colombia travel to New Delhi. Hackworth’s boys will have to wait for the other results to determine who make the four better third-placed teams.
The spirited Colombians scored a goal in the first half and added two more in the second to seal the issue beyond USA. Colombia took the lead in the third minute through Juan Vidal’s opportunistic goal following a back header by Deiber Caicedo off a throw-in as four American defenders failed to clear.
USA restored parity in the 24th minute when Andrew Carleton brilliantly ran in from the right and into the box before sending the ball to the waiting George Acosta. The Los Cafeteros again went ahead of the Stars and Stripes in the 67th minute when Juan Penaloza, who scored twice against India three nights back, sent in a ferocious free kick from outside the penalty on the left into the roof of the net and into the right corner.
Colombia put it beyond USA’s reach with an 87th minute strike by Caicedo, who latched on to a pass from Penaloza from the left.
Final score
Colombia 3 (Juan Vidal 3, Juan Penaloza 67, Deiber Caicedo 87) bt USA 1 (George Acosta 24)
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 "football, soccer, colombia, usa, united states of america, FIFA Under-17 World Cup, FIFA Under 17 World Cup, FIFA U-17 World Cup")
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