The United States crushed New Caledonia in its debut in the U-20 World Cup
The United States crushed New Caledonia in its debut in the U-20 World Cup
The United States crushed New Caledonia in its debut in the U-20 World Cup
The United States debuted this Monday in the U-20 World Cup in Chile with a 9-1 thrashing in Rancagua over the debuting New Caledonia team, and in the process appeared to take the lead in Group E along with France, which hours earlier defeated South Africa 2-1.
It was the biggest defeat inflicted by the Stars and Stripes team in the history of this tournament. Until then, the greatest demonstration of power had been the 6-0 defeat. to New Zealand in the 2017 World Cup in South Korea.
A hat trick from Benja Cremaschi (2nd, 4th and 37th minutes), a double from Nolan Norris (34th and 44th minutes) and goals from Niko Tsakiris (7th minute), Frankie Westfield (28th minute), Taha Habroune (68th minute) and Cole Campbell (73rd minute) confirmed the scoring power of the American team.
So much so that before 10 minutes had passed they were already winning 3-0 at the El Teniente stadium in Rancagua.
Wapae Antoine Simane scored the only goal for the debuting Oceania team in the 70th minute, and at halftime the Oceanians went into a 7-0 deficit.
Cremaschi broke the deadlock balance in the 2nd minute and extended his lead in the 4th. He provided the assist for the third, scored by Tsakiris in the 7th minute.
From then on, the game calmed down, and the United States slowed down. New Caledonia had a good opportunity through Damien Ujicas, the player who had tried the most in attack for the Canaca team, although he was too alone to create any real danger.
The best news for New Caledonia was the good performance of goalkeeper Noa Muller, who neutralized four very clear chances.
The game seemed to be at a standstill until in the 28th minute Francis Westfield, of the Philadelphia Union, beat Muller with a header from a corner.
The United States unleashed. A brace from Nolan Norris in the 35th and 44th minutes, and a third from Cremaschi in the 37th minute, made it 7-0, the score at halftime. In the 68th minute, Habroune headed in a cross from Francis Westfield. Two minutes later,After a poor clearance by goalkeeper Adam Beaudry, striker Simane scored New Caledonia's only goal.
But in the 73rd minute, with New Caledonia on the up, Campbell put the icing on the cake with a crisp shot from the right corner of the New Caledonia box.