Monday, February 28, 2011

USA WINS CONCACAF UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP


The USA got overtime goals from Nathan Smith on a blast from almost 40 yards and Andrew Oliver and Alfred Koroma on breakaways to beat Canada, 3-0, and win the Concacaf under-17 championship for the first time since 1992.

With one its best youth teams in recent history, Canada had high hopes of winning the U-17 title, but goalie Kendall McIntosh ke pt the USA in the game with two big saves in the first half.

Smith broke in from the left side and beat Canada goalie Maxime Crepeau with a shot that hit off the far post and went into the goal. It was the first goal Canada had allowed in five games.

Oliver then put the Americans ahead by 2-0 when he blew past the Canada backline, rounded Crepeau and scored into an empty net for his team-high fourth goal of the tournament.

Los Angeles Galaxy rookie Jack McBean, who had fed Oliver, set up Koroma for the third goal.

The only downer for the USA was Oliver's red card in the 118th minute for tussling with Canadian Marco Lapenna.

The ejections should keep both players out of the opening game of the U-17 World Cup.

Panama beat host Jamaica, 1-0, in the third-place game.

All four semifinalists qualified for the 2011 Under-17 World Cup, which will be held in Mexico June 18-July 10.

Final Feb. 27 in Montego Bay
USA 3 Canada 0. Goals: Smith 92, A.Oliver 100, Koroma 118.
USA -- McIntosh, Smith, Souders (Fehr, 46), Carroll, Amon, Dunn, Pelosi, Serna (Koroma, 56), E.Rodriguez, M.Rodriguez (McBean, 84), Oliver.
Canada -- Crepeau, Piette, Stanese, Seymour, Lapenna, Alderson (Jalali, 102), Aleman, Nanco, Gasparotto, Chapman (Hamilton, 56), Patrasso (Cain, 67)
Red Cards: USA -- A.Oliver 118; Canada -- Lapenna 118.
Referee: Enrico Winjgaarde (Suriname).

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