DOHA, Qatar (November 8, 2025) – The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team utilized goals from Nimfasha Berchimas and Cavan Sullivan on both sides of halftime to earn a 2-1 comeback win against Tajikistan in the team’s second match of the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup. With six points from two matches, the result ensures the USA has clinched a place in the Round of 32 and can claim top spot in Group I with a win or draw in Tuesday’s group stage finale against Czechia (9:45 a.m. ET; FS2, Universo, Peacock).
Heading into the affair, U.S. head coach Gonzalo Segares made four changes to the lineup that defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 in a tight matchup on Wednesday, inserting Luca Moisa, Cavan Sullivan and Mateo Tsakiris in midfield and Chase Adams up front.
It was Tajikistan that got off to a hot start, scoring in just the third minute. Intercepting a pass in the U.S. half and darting forward towards goal, Muhammad Nazriev ran onto a lobbed ball over the top from Mehrubon Odilzoda and finished with a powerful strike past ‘keeper Aidan Stokes to give the side a 1-0 lead.
For the first 25 minutes, the USA found it difficult breaking through the final third, as the opposing team employed a disciplined and compact defensive game plan after taking the lead. As a result, the U.S. concentrated much of its attack on the left side of the pitch, with the team looking to Mathis Albert and Cavan Sullivan to create chances.
After some promising looks, the U.S. finally found the equalizer on a corner kick in the 30th minute. Sullivan curled a precise in-swinging cross to the back post where Nimfasha Berchimas elevated himself and confidently nodded home past Tajikistan ‘keeper Rahim Rahmonov. Berchimas not only brought the USA level, but he also earned a place in history as the only U.S. player to score in two editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, having tallied three during the 2023 edition in Indonesia.
Momentum began to shift in favor of the Americans and a few moments later, Sullivan received the ball in the 18-yard-box and was able to fire off a shot on goal, but the attempt was saved by Rahmonov.
At the 43rd minute, Ramiz Hamouda played Sullivan on the left touchline who took a touch and struck a low cross into the box, allowing Chase Adams to slot the ball home. The go-ahead goalwas called back following a VAR challenge, as Adams was ruled offside when Sullivan struck the ball.
Play resumed and moments later the U.S. quickly moved forward again, with Adams finding himself on the receiving end of a floating cross, heading the ball towards goal only to have Rahmonov make a fantastic diving stop to deny the chance.
During first half stoppage time, the U.S. was inches away from taking the lead on two separate occasions having both attempts denied on the goal line. First, Adams had his shot blocked on the line and then Luca Moisa’s attempt met the same fate, sending the teams into the locker room tied 1-1.
In a match where the USA outshot Tajikistan 19-2, Segares’ side continued to dominant throughout the second half. Adams continued his strong performance early on, forcing himself into the box with the ball, creating enough space to get off a shot, but the ball was deflected and went out for a corner kick. After a quick look, Segares called for a VAR review for a potential handball in the box, but referee Tanguy Bemiame deemed that it did not occur, moving forward with the set piece.
In the 56th minute, Berchimas made a crucial run into the box and was fouled hard by Ramazon Bakhtaliev prompting the ref to blow his whistle and signal to the penalty spot. After a failed VAR request from Tajikistan head coach Marco Ragini upheld the penalty, Sullivan took the ball and showed no signs of pressure, coolly chipped his take straight up the middle to give the USA a 2-1 advantage in the 61st minute.
With the lead in hand, the U.S. was comfortable building up play from the back. In the 70th minute, the team bore the fruits of its labor, stringing passes together to put Mateo Tsakiris in position to strike from the top of the box where he curled his effort just wide.
In the 74th minute, substitute Jamir Johnson took on his defender coming from the left side and put the ball onto his right foot to fire a shot that careened off the cross bar and out for a goal kick. Six minutes later in the 80th, Moisa sent the ball to the back post for Sullivan, who nodded home a header, but the goal was called back for offside.
The USA saw out the remaining minutes to ensure a well-earned 2-1 victory and a place in the Round of 32.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- With the win, the USA advanced to the Knockout Round of the U-17 World Cup for the 11th time.
- Already the first U.S. player to go to multiple U-17 World Cups, Nimfasha Berchimas tallied his fourth career goal at the tournament with his equalizer in the 30th minute. Berchimas led the USA with three goals at the 2023 tournament in Indonesia.
- Cavan Sullivan hit home the game-winner from the penalty spot in the 61st minute and also provided the assist on Berchimas’ strike, giving him three goal contributions in two matches at the U-17 World Cup (two goals, one assist).
- Segares made four changes from the lineup that began Wednesday’s opener against Burkina Faso, inserting Luca Moisa, Cavan Sullivan and Mateo Tsakiris in midfield and Chase Adams on the front line.
- Jordan Griffin, Julian Hall, Jack Kortkamp and Cooper Sanchez did not dress for the match due to illness.
- U.S. UNDER-17 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –
Match: United States Under-17 Men’s National Team vs. Tajikistan
Date: November 8, 2025
Competition: 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup - Group Stage
Venue: Aspire Zone Pitch 2 – Ibrahim Khalfan
Attendance: N/A
Kickoff: 5:45 p.m. local time (9:45 a.m. ET)
Weather: 84 degrees, clear
| Scoring Summary |
1 |
2 |
F |
| USA |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| TJK |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| TJK - Muhammad Nazriev (Mehrubon Odilzoda) | 3rd minute |
| USA – Nimfasha Berchimas (Cavan Sullivan) | 30 |
| USA – Cavan Sullivan (penalty kick) | 61 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Aidan Stokes; 2-Gio Villa, 4-Christopher Cupps (Capt.), 5-Ramiz Hamouda (20-Enrique Martinez 71), 3-Pedro Guimaraes;18-Luca Moisa, 19-Mateo Tsakiris, 6-Cavan Sullivan (10-Maximo Carrizo, 87); 7-Nimfasha Berchimas (13-Kellan LeBlanc, 84), 9-Chase Adams (8-Jude Terry, 84), 11-Mathis Albert (17-Jamir Johnson, 71)
Substitutes not used: 21-William Lodmell,
Not available: 12-Jack Kortkamp, 14-Jordan Griffin, 15-Cooper Sanchez, 16-Julian Hall
Head coach: Gonzalo Segares
TJK: 1-Rahim Rahmonov, 2-Samad Melikmurodov, 4-Mehroj Rozykov, 5-Mustafo Hasanbekov (Capt.), 7-Muhammad Nazriev, 8-Ramazon Bakhtaliev (6-Bakhodur Nazarzoda, 90+3), 9-Nazurollo Ashuralizoda (11-Haidarsho Khudoidodov, 83), 10-Ahmad Shoev, 15-Abdullo Ibragimzoda (13-Zarif Zarifzoda, 83) 17-Parviz Bobonazarov, 21-Mehrubon Odilzoda (14-Asadbek Makhtumov, 76)
Substitutes not used: 16-Abubakr Rahmonqulov, 20-Anushervon Kurbonzoda, 3-Sadriddin Sattorov, 12-Shukhrat Nurmatov, 18-Munavar Anzarzod, 19-Saidjon Khojaev
Head coach: Marco Ragini
Stats Summary: USA / TJK
Shots: 18 / 2
Shots on Goal: 9 / 1
Saves:0 / 5
Corner Kicks: 11 / 0
Fouls: 15 / 7
Offside: 2 / 0
Officials:
Referee: Tanguy Bemiame (GAB)
Assistant Referee 1: Salim Alao (BEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Amos Abeigne (GAB)
Fourth Official: Rustam Lutfullin (UZB)
