The United States beat hosts New Zealand 4-0 to become the
first team to secure a place in the knockout rounds of the Under-20 World Cup
while Ghana shocked South American champion Argentina 3-2 on Tuesday. After
beating Myanmar 2-1 in their opening match on Saturday, the United States moved
to the top of Group A to become the first of 24 teams to seal a place in the
round of 16. Earlier, Ukraine put the US under pressure by beating Myanmar 6-0
to move temporarily to the top of the group.
But the US overcame wet and cold conditions to beat New
Zealand with a double by Rubio Rubin and goals from Emerson Hyndman and Paul
Arriola.
In Wellington, Ghana outclassed Argentina to surge to the
top of Group B, and was also close to advancing. Also, Austria improved their
prospects with a 2-1 win over Panama.
Argentina drew 2-2 with Panama in their opener and have
taken only a point from their first two games to make their final group match
against Austria on Friday critical.
Ghana opened up a 3-0 lead after 69 minutes before Argentina
rushed back into the match with late goals from Giovanni Simeone and Emiliano
Buendia. Buendia's goal in the 90th set up a frenetic finish and both teams had
several scoring chances in almost six minutes of stoppage time.
The first half was also full of action and both sides went
close to scoring on several occasions before Benjamin Tetteh gave Ghana the
lead in the 44th. Ghana was the dominant side and their skill and daring set
the tone for the match that was played mostly in torrential rain. Clifford
Aboagye made it 2-0 in the 59th and Yaw Yebboah gave Ghana a 3-0 advantage with
a penalty in the 69th.
Viktor Kovalenko had two goals and two goal assists for
Ukraine, and substitute Valerii Luchkevych added a goal and an assist - with
all of the goals in the second half.
"I had planned to bring Luchkevych on at half-time as
we were lacking speed," Ukraine coach Oleksandr Petrakov said. "We
had agreed that he would start the second half and he really improved our
game."
Myanmar coach Gerd Zeise said his players will always
struggle against rivals with experience in European leagues.
"We are too blind and we do not have the experience,
that's absolutely clear," he said. "It was a disaster and this
tournament has come too early for us.
"We cannot follow these teams, no chance," Zeise
said. "My team was too poor."
Austria came from a goal down to beat Panama, which were
reduced to nine men in the second half.
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