Rocked by Senegal 4-1 in what has been considered a lifeless game by most, next up are the champs from Asia, Japan who knocked off the Netherlands, home of the storied AJax club, famous for their youth devlopment dropping them 3-0. In this tourney, the US are 0-2 in facing the Samurai Blue, overall at the U-17 level the US record stands at 6-7-1 when opposing Asian Football Confederation sides. To advance one must be in the top 2 of each group or one of the 4 best 3rd place teams and then onto the Sweet Sixteen, a loss all but seals the deal of no advancement for the USA. Tayvon Green of NYCFC, sent off in the 87th minute will not be eligible to play this match. Japan are now in their 9th U-17 World Cup, 1993 saw them host and get to the quarters, the same round they achived in 2011, their best showings to date. THe whole of their roster is Japan based, Shonan Bellmare has supplied the lions share of players as 13 out of the 21 man roster are in the J1 League, the top level in Japan, their Head Coach, Yoshiro Moriyama has been capped 7 times for Japan.
The quick start by the US belied what was to come, NYCFC player from Long Island Joe Scally sent in a cross, headed home in the 3rd minute by Gianluca Busio, tying the record for the fastest goal by the US in this Cup. Senegal, in their first Cup had a few good looks but Damian Lee was able to keep them out until the very end of the half. Early in the 2nd stanza, the US had some opporunities to re take the lead but nothing doing. The 72' saw Senegal go up on the counter, another goal was added just 4 minutes later, capped off one minute following the red card, with a direct kick from just beyond the area. Along with the Green and Scally, NYCFC player Andres Jasson is also on the roster with the son of NYCFC Sporting Director, GIo Reyna of Borussia Dortmund.
The game tonight at 7:50 ET will be carried on FS2 & Universo, MLS starts shortly thereafter.