:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54966001/JoshSargent_2017U20WorldCup.0.jpg)
In the final game of the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup group stage, the United States U-20 MNT takes on Saudi Arabia early Sunday morning. Sitting in first and third in Group F, respectively, both teams can potentially qualify for the Round of 16 with a draw, but Saudi Arabia needs a high scoring game to advance through a tie breaker.
Josh Sargent has been the hero for the U.S. so far. After earning his first U-20 cap, he became the sixth American to score multiple goals in this tournament and the youngest to score. If he scores a goal on Sunday morning, the 17-year-old joins the elite company of Taylor Twellman, Eddie Johnson, and Jozy Altidore as the only players to record four goals in the U-20 World Cup.
The U.S. tied Ecuador and beat Senegal to have a group high of four points. After a rough game defensively against Ecuador, the young Nats took control in the second match. Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers returned from injury and midfielder Luca de la Torre again got on the assist sheet.
Saudi Arabia got hammered in its first match. The score was only 2-0, but could have been much worse for the Middle Eastern team if not for goalkeeper Mohammed Alyami. Saudi Arabia battled back in game two, as midfielder Ayman Alkhulaif and forward Abdulrahman Alyami combined twice to record Saudi Arabia’s first win in the U-20 World Cup since 2011.
Here’s how it stands entering the final round of group play:
Group F
| Teams | GP | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | GP | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| USA | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Senegal | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| Ecuador | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 |
Rosters:
USA
Goalkeepers: Jonathan Klinsmann (University of California; Newport Beach, Calif.), J.T. Marcinkowski (Georgetown; Alamo, Calif.), Brady Scott (De Anza Force; Petaluma, Calif.).
Defenders: Danny Acosta (Real Salt Lake; Salt Lake City, Utah), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur FC; Westcliff-on-Sea, England), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake; Tucson, Ariz.), Aaron Herrera (University of New Mexico; Las Cruces, N.M.), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City; Lee's Summit, Mo.), Tommy Redding (Orlando City SC; Oviedo, Fla.), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union; Media, Pa.).
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls; Wappingers Falls, N.Y.), Luca De La Torre (Fulham FC; San Diego, Calif.), Derrick Jones (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Eryk Williamson (University of Maryland; Alexandria, Va.), Gedion Zelalem (Arsenal FC; Bethesda, Md.).
Forwards: Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers; Bethesda, Md.), Lagos Kunga (Atlanta United FC Academy; Tucker, Ga.) Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake; Paradise Valley, Ariz.), Emmanuel Sabbi (Unattached; Columbus, Ohio), Josh Sargent (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; O'Fallon, Mo.), Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake; Park City, Utah).
Saudi Arabia
Goalkeepers: Amin Albukhari, Saleh Alohaymid, Mohammed Alyami.
Defenders: Anas Zabbani, Mohammad Albassas, Awn Alsaluli, Abdulelah Alamri, Hassan Altambakti, Abdullah Tarmin.
Midfielders: Sami Alnaji, Khalid Alsamiri, Yousef Alharbi, Hassan Alqayd, Alyman Alkhulaif, Ali Alasmari, Naif Kireiri, Abdulrahman Aldosari, Nasser Aldawsari, Fahad Alrashidi.
Forwards: Abdulrahman Alyami, Mansour Alymuwallad.
How to Watch:
Match Time: 5 a.m. ET.
Venue: Daejeon World Cup Stadium — Daejeon, Korea Republic.
TV: FS1, Telemundo.
Streaming: FOX Sports Go.
Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow along at @StarsAndStripesFC. Also, be sure to follow @ussoccer_ynt.
Match Thread Rules
This is your live thread for posting comments on the match. So use our comments section below to talk about the game in real time with other supporters. If you're new, welcome to our happy home! While you're here, please observe a few basic rules:
- Absolutely no links to illegal streams. They can get us in trouble, and no one wants that.
- Try not to be "that guy" who spews nothing but venom and hate for the team. It's OK to be critical, and, let's face it, sometimes even the best teams can be frustrating to watch, but being overly negative relentlessly can sap the enjoyment for others.
- Keep it somewhat clean and fair when criticizing players / officials. You never know who might be reading.
- Do unto others in the match thread, the way you would have others do unto you. We are a fun community and want to keep it this way. We have a moderator, but we'd rather let him enjoy the game instead of having to play babysitter.
Enjoy the match!