Seth Jahn Notches Equalizer Before Nick Mayhugh’s Second Strike Secures Victory;
USA Defeats Reigning World Championship and Paralympic Silver Medalists for First Time
SEVILLA, SPAIN (July 8, 2019) – The U.S. Para 7-a-Side National Team scored three unanswered goals, including a last-minute game-winner, to defeat perennial powerhouse Iran 3-2 in the opening Group B match for both teams at the 2019 IFCPF World Cup in Sevilla, Spain. The win is the USA’s first over the defending World Champions and Paralympic silver medalists.
Iran jumped to an early lead before the 10-minute mark when Rasul Atashafrouz took pass at the top of the box and placed a ball past USA goalkeeper Sean Boyle. Iran double its lead minutes later when Shahab Rahimikandoleh’s shot from 25 yards deflected off a defender and in.
The USA would cut the lead in half before the break. After Drew Bremer was tackled hard on the outside of the box, Nick Mayhugh sent the cleared free kick back towards goal. Iran’s goalkeeper misplayed an attempted clearance and the ball found its way in the back of the net.
Iran put the USA under heavy pressure to begin the second half, but Boyle was up the challenge, clearing away a close-range shot in the 37th and making a fantastic diving save two minutes later.
Those saves proved key.
After being on the support staff for the U.S. Women’s National Team during the FIFA World Cup, Para forward Seth Jahn arrived in Sevilla on Monday morning, less than 24 hours after the WNT won the World Cup in Lyon, France. He entered the match in the 43rd minute and scored the tying goal 10 minutes later.
With his back to goal Mayhugh sprung Cameron DeLillo towards the endline. DeLillo sent in a first-time cross to the back post, where Jahn headed the ball down and past the goalkeeper to tie the match.
The USA then finished the comeback in the last minute of regulation, with Mayhugh going on a half-field solo run down the right flank before ripping a low shot inside the far post for the game-winner.
Iran had a fury of late shots but could not get past Boyle, who stood on his head with three incredible saves in the dying minutes to preserve the 3-2 U.S. victory.
Up Next: The USA faces Finland on Wednesday in the second match of Group B (3 a.m. ET). Finland suffered a heavy defeat in their opener, falling to Ireland 10-0 earlier in the day. Fans can follow along on twitter @ussoccer_pnt and Instagram at @ussoccer_pnt.
-U.S. Para 7-a-Side National Team Match Report-
Match: U.S. Para 7-a-Side National Team vs. Iran
Date: July 8, 2019
Competition: 2019 IFCPF World Cup – Group B
Venue: Ciudad Deportiva Sevilla FC Cisneros Palacios, Sevilla, Spain
Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET
Attendance: TBA
Weather: 84 degrees, sunny
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 2 3
IRN 2 0 2
IRN – Rasul Atashafrouz 8th minute
IRN – Shahab Rahimikandoleh 13
USA – Nick Mayhugh 21
USA – Seth Jahn 53
USA – Nick Mayhugh 59
Lineups:
USA: 1-Sean Boyle, 2-Cameron DeLillo, 6-Ben Lindau (5-Seth Jahn, 43), 7-Adam Ballou (13-Josh Brunais, 48), 8-Drew Bremer, 9-Nick Mayhugh, 10-David Garza (capt)
Substitutes: 12-Carter Alvey, 3-Jacob Crumbley, 4-Jacob Kaplan, 11-Tyler Bennett, 14-Shea Hammond
Head coach: Stuart Sharp
IRN: 1- Alireza Zare, 3- Mohammad Kharat (8- Hassan Safari, 48), 4- Shahab Rahimikandoleh, 6- Abbas Torabi, 7- Behnam Arandi, 10- Masoud Zholidehmalekshahi (capt), 11- Rasul Atashafrouz
Substitutes: 12- Babak Safarikorabbasloo, 2- Yaser Rostami, 5- Moslem Mehrabian, 9- Amin Rezaeibezminabadi, 13- Lotfollah Jangjo, 14- Mehdi Bakhshi
Head coach: Ali Rouzbahani
Misconduct Summary:
IRN – Mohammad Kharat 20th minute
USA – Nick Mayhugh 36
USA – Josh Brunais 55
USA – Seth Jahn 58
IRN – Rasul Atashafrouz 60+3
Officials:
Referee: Stroud
Second Referee: Camara
Third Referee: Naranjo
Fourth Official: Narvaez
ussoccer.com Man of the Match: TBA
