USA Faces Qatar With Advancement To Knockout Phase On The Line​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‍​‌‍​‌‌​‍​‌‌​‍‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‍‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​​‌‍‍‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌‍​​‌‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​​‌​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‌‌​​‍‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​​​‌‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‍​‌‍​‌‌​‍​‌‌​‍‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‍‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​​‌‍‍‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌‍​‍‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‌​‌‍‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‍‌​‍​‍‌‌

U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team
2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup – Group D
Tychy Stadium; Tychy, Poland

2:30 p.m. ET (FS2, Universo)
May 30, 2019

U-20 MNT WRAPS UP GROUP D: Following a crucial 2-0 victory against Nigeria, the U.S. U-20 MNT has a chance to advance to the knockout stage when they close the FIFA U-20 World Cup group stage against Qatar on Thursday, May 30 (2:30 p.m. ET; FS2, Universo). While the USA currently sits in third place in its group, the team is in prime position to qualify for the Round of 16 and with the potential to still top Group D. Qatar suffered two straight losses to open the tournament but remains alive for third place in the group.

The top two teams in each of the six U-20 World Cup groups advance to the Round of 16, plus the four best-ranked third-placed teams. Thursday’s match will be broadcast on FS2 and Universo. Follow the U-20 MNT throughout the tournament on ussoccer.com, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

U-20 WORLD CUP DIGITAL MEDIA GUIDE:For more on the U-20 MNT at the U-20 WC, check out the digital media guide for complete info on players, stats, results from the full 2018-19 cycle, team history and everything else about the squad set to take on the world in Poland.

USA GROUP D SCHEDULE

Date	Match	Kickoff (ET)/Result	Broadcast	Venue
May 24	USA vs. Ukraine	L 1-2	FS1, Universo	Bielsko-Biala Stadium, Bielsko-Biala
May 27	USA vs. Nigeria	W 2-0	FS1, Universo	Bielsko-Biala Stadium, Bielsko-Biala
May 30	USA vs. Qatar	2:30 p.m.	FS2, Universo	Tychy Stadium, Tychy

 

KNOCKOUT ROUND QUALIFICATION SCENARIOS: The USA can lock up a top-two finish and a spot in the knockout round with a win against Qatar. If Nigeria defeats Ukraine, there’s a possibility that the USA can finish first in the group should the USA beat Qatar by more goals than Nigeria beats Ukraine.

Should the USA draw Qatar, it can finish second in the group if Ukraine beats Nigeria. The U.S. would finish third with a draw and a victory by Ukraine or a draw between Ukraine and Nigeria

If the USA loses, it would still have a chance to finish second if Ukraine beats Nigeria and placement goes to a goal-differential tiebreaker. Otherwise, the U.S. would finish third or fourth in the group. It’s difficult to predict the USA’s fate should it finish in third place, but after six matchdays the U.S. is currently the top-ranked third-placed team and in good position to advance. 

WATCH THE FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP: All of the USA’s matches at the U-20 World Cup will be broadcast in English on Fox Sports platforms. Thursday’s game will be broadcast live on FS2. Matches are also available to stream on the Fox Sports App. The full Fox broadcast schedule can be found here.

The USA’s matches will be broadcast in Spanish on Telemundo platforms. All three group stage matches will be available on Universo and streamed live on the Telemundo Deportes app.

USA VS. QATAR

• Thursday’s match marks the USA’s second meeting all-time against Qatar at this tournament.
• The USA faced Qatar in its first appearance at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, drawing the Middle Eastern nation 1-1 in the group stage at Australia 1981. Qatar went on to finish second at the tournament.
• Qatar is making its fourth appearance at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, returning to the tournament after missing in 2017. The team’s best finish came as silver medalist at the 1981 tournament.
• The Qatar roster features 17 players born in 1999 and four born in 2000.
• Eighteen of 21 players compete domestically in Qatar. All but one player come from clubs currently in the Qatar Stars League, the country’s first division. The most come from Al-Ahli, the oldest sports club in Qatar.
• Three players are based internationally, all In Belgium at first division club Eupen.

GROUP D STANDINGS AND RESULTS

Team	W	L	D	GD	Pts.
Ukraine	2	0	0	2	6
Nigeria	1	1	0	2	3
USA	1	1	0	1	3
Qatar	0	2	0	-5	0

Date                Result                          Venue

May 24            Ukraine 2, USA 1         Bielsko-Biala Stadium; Bielsko-Biala
May 24            Nigeria 4, Qatar 0       Tychy Stadium; Tychy

May 27            USA 2, Nigeria 0          Bielsko-Biala Stadium; Bielsko-Biala

May 27            Ukraine 1, Qatar 0      Tychy Stadium; Tychy


USA BOUNCES BACK VS. NIGERIA: After a strong effort but disappointing result in its World Cup opener against Ukraine, the USA responded when it needed a result on Monday against Nigeria with a complete 2-0 win. Coming out firing and controlling the pace of play, the U.S. broke through on a set piece in the 18th minute. Midfielder Alex Mendez hit a laser of a corner kick to the far post and forward Sebastian Soto lost his mark to head in the opening goal. The USA very nearly doubled its lead in the first half, including on a goal called back for offside, but went into the break up 1-0.

The U-20s wasted no time in the second half, scoring less than 30 seconds in. Left back Chris Gloster made a conniving run up the wing and cut inside to set up Hannover 96 teammate Sebastian Soto to finish from close range. The brace saw Soto become the 10th USA player to score two goals in a FIFA U-20 World Cup game. Goalkeeper Brady Scott made a number of nice saves down the stretch and the U.S. back line held strong to record a shutout. 

TOUGH START FOR QATAR: Qatar stumbled out of the gate in its U-20 World Cup opener, falling 4-0 to Nigeria. The Flying Eagles went up two goals on Qatar in the first 25 minutes of play and added two more tallies after the break.

Despite the disappointing first match, Qatar held strong against a tough Ukraine side in its second game before falling 1-0. The Middle Eastern nation battled Ukraine to a scoreless draw in the first half, but the Yellow-Blue found the back of the net off of a corner kick in the 59th and Qatar wasn’t able to find an equalizer. Qatar captain Nasir Peer was shown a red card in the 85th minute and will miss the match against the USA.

2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Roster by Position (Club; Hometown; U-20 Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): CJ Dos Santos (Benfica/POR; Foxchase, Pa.; 2/0), David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake; Oxnard, Calif.; 4/0), Brady Scott (Köln/GER; Petaluma, Calif.; 11/0)

DEFENDERS (6): Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy; Lompoc, Calif.; 2/0), Sergino Dest (Ajax/NED; Almere-Stad, Netherlands; 10/1), Chris Gloster (Hannover 96/GER; Montclair, N.J.; 13/0), Aboubacar Keita (Columbus Crew SC; Columbus, Ohio; 4/0), Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union; Bear, Del.; 11/3), Matthew Real (Philadelphia Union; Drexel Hill, Pa.; 11/0), Chris Richards (Bayern Munich/GER; Birmingham, Ala.; 10/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Edwin Cerrillo (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas; 0/0), Chris Durkin (D.C. United; Glen Allen, Va.; 4/0), Richard Ledezma (PSV Eindhoven/NED; Phoenix, Ariz.; 4/0), Alex Mendez (Freiburg/GER; Los Angeles, Calif.; 17/8), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas; Highland Village, Texas; 11/3), Brandon Servania (FC Dallas; Dallas, Texas; 10/3)

FORWARDS (5): Konrad De La Fuente (Barcelona/ESP; Miami, Fla.; 4/1), Ulysses Llanez (Wolfsburg/GER; Lynwood, Calif.; 11/7), Justin Rennicks (New England Revolution; South Hamilton, Mass.; 15/6), Sebastian Soto (Hannover 96/GER; San Diego, Calif.; 7/4), Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA; Rosedale, N.Y.; 2/0)

QATAR – 2019 FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB):
GOALKEEPERS (3): 21-Marwan Badreldin (Al-Ahli), 18-Shebaab Mamdouh (Al-Duhail), 1-Salah Zakaria (Eupen/BEL)

DEFENDERS (7): 12-Homan Ahmed (Eupen/BEL), 3-Ahmed Al-Minhali (Al-Sailiya), 5-Yousef Aymen (Qatar SC), 13-Ali Malolah (Al-Wakrah), 15-Bahaa Mamdouh (Al-Sadd), 2-Nasir Peer (Qatar SC), 19-Ahmed Suhail (Al-Ahli)

MIDFIELDERS (9): 14-Eisa Ahmad (Qatar SC), 4-Abdollah Ali (Eupen/BEL), 16-Hashim Ali (Al-Arabi), 6-Nasser Al Yazidi (Al-Duuhail), 10-Khaled Mohammed (Qatar SC), 11-Abdulla Nasser (Al-Khor), 8-Andri Syahputra (Al-Gharafa), 17-Mohammed Waad (Al-Ahli), 20-Ahmad Yasser (Al-Duhail)
FORWARDS (2): 9-Yusuf Abdurisag (Al-Arabi), 7-Abdulrasheed Umaru (Al-Ahli)

HOW THEY GOT HERE:

• Qatar qualified to the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup as one of the top four teams at the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship in Indonesia.
• Qatar was drawn into the three-team Group C for AFC Championship qualifying, needing a top-two finish to advance to the final tournament. Qatar beat Lebanon 2-0, and after tying Iraq in regulation emerged victorious 3-2 on penalty kicks to secure advancement.
• Qatar finished as the top team in Group A at the AFC Championship, dropping its opener to the United Arab Emirates 2-1, taking down host Indonesia in a wild 6-5 contest and rolling China Tapei 4-0.
• In the quarterfinals, Qatar and Thailand battled to a 3-3 draw in regulation before Qatar busted the game open in extra time, scoring four goals to win 7-3 and clinch a spot in the World Cup.
• Qatar lost to Korea Republic 3-1 in the semifinals, falling into a 3-0 deficit before the half.
• Abdulrasheed Umaru took home the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals, while Hashim Ali added five tallies for Qatar.

ALREADY ADVANCED: Seven teams have already clinched berths in the Round of 16: Senegal from Group A, Italy from Group B, New Zealand and Uruguay from Group C, Ukraine from Group D, France from Group E and Argentina from Group F. 

 

TOURNAMENT GROUP STANDINGS

  

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