The United States U-20 national team won an elimination game at the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the first time since 2007 early Wednesday morning, edging Colombia 1-0 to reach the quarterfinals (WATCH HIGHLIGHTS). Rubio Rubin scored the game's only goal in the 58th minute, while former University of Maryland goalkeeper Zack Steffen saved a penalty kick in the 83rd minute to dramatically preserve the win in Wellington, New Zealand.
In the quarterfinals, the US will face Serbia on Sunday morning (late Saturday night in much of the US) at 12:30 am ET. The US have not reached the quarterfinals since the 1989 edition of what was then known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, when they finished fourth. Serbia advanced with a 2-1 extra-time win over Hungary.
Wednesday's game got off to a rocky start for the US, as LA Galaxy forward Bradford Jamieson IV landed awkwardly in the first 10 minutes and had to be taken to a local hospital, where he was being evaluated further, according to US Soccer. With forward Maki Tall already out for the tournament due to injury, Salt Lake winger Jordan Allen replaced Jamieson, leaving the US with only one true forward.
Colombia held a 24-8 shot advantage for the game and forced Steffen and the US back line to hold firm under significant pressure late in the first half. The game changed in the 58th minute, when that lone US forward, Rubin, reacted first to a blocked Paul Arriola shot and fired a shot into the roof of the net from about 10 yards away.
From there, the US hung on gamely but faced several scares in the final minutes. In the 80th minute, left back Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas) was whistled for a foul in the penalty area and his second yellow card, earning an ejection. Steffen, who made a crucial penalty-kick save for the US in the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in January, rose to the occasion again, diving to his right to bunch away Jarlan Barrera's effort.
- MORE: US Soccer recap
Colombia were not done trying to tie the game, but Arriola headed away a Barrera effort in the 84th minute, and the US held on to advance.
The win was the second shutout in three games for the US, who had not recorded a shutout at the U-20 World Cup since 2005.
Lineups
USA: Zack Steffen; Desevio Payne, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Matt Miazga, Kellyn Acosta; Marky Delgado, Emerson Hyndman, Gedion Zelalem (Tommy Thompson 87), Paul Arriola (John Requejo 84); Rubio Rubin, Bradford Jamieson IV (Jordan Allen 11)
Substitutes Not Used: Thomas Olsen, Jeff Caldwell, Shaquell Moore, Joel Soñora, Conor Donovan, Erik Palmer-Brown.
Head coach: Tab Ramos
COL: Alvaro Montero; Jeison Angulo, Juan Quintero, Andres Tello, Alexis Zapata (Joao Rodriguez 72); Steven Lucumi (Carlos Ibarguen 64), Davinson Sanchez, Rodin Quiñones, Jarlan Barrera; Victor Gutierrez (Deinner Quiñones 60), Santos Borre
Substitutes Not Used: Luis Vasquez, Aldayr Hernandez, Daniel Londoño, Sergio Villareal, Jhoan Ayala, Juan Otero, Yasser Chavez (GK)
Head coach: Carlos Alberto Restrepo
Stats: USA / COL
Shots: 8 / 24
Shots on Goal: 2 / 3
Saves: 3 / 1
Corner Kicks: 4 /4
Fouls: 17 / 16
Offside: 1 / 2
Misconduct Summary
COL - Juan Quintero (caution) 20
USA - Paul Arriola (caution) 26
USA - Kellyn Acosta (caution) 34
COL - Andres Tello (caution) 49
COL - Jeison Angulo (caution) 54
USA - Kellyn Acosta (ejection; second caution) 81
COL - Jarlan Barrera (caution) 86
Officials
Referee: Antonio Ivan Bebek (CRO)
Assistant Referee 1: Tomislav Petrovic (CRO)
Assistant Referee 2: Miro Grgic (CRO)
Fourth Official: Matt Conger (NZL)
