It wasn’t the prettiest match but the United States Under-20 squad opened the U-20 World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Myanmar in their Group A opener on Saturday.
A slow start threatened to doom the Americans after Myanmar opened the scoring with a goal in the ninth minute, but Tab Ramos’ squad answered quickly as Maki Tall and Emerson Hyndman scored to give the U.S. the victory at Northland Events Center in Whangarei. With the win, and a draw between New Zealand and Ukraine, the Americans currently sit at the top of Group A after Match Day 1.
LA Galaxy homegrown talent Bradford Jamieson IV went 41 minutes in the win.
Yan Naing Oo scored in the ninth minute of play when the midfielder pounced on a failed clearance by the U.S. With the Americans unable to clear out the danger, Naing Oo knocked it past U.S goalkeeper Zack Steffen from close range.
The Americans responded just eight minutes later when Cameron Carter-Vickers ever so slightly redirected a Hyndman corner onto the path of Tall. The 19-year-old slid toward the ball and placed in it into the back of the net with a right-footed strike for the equalizer.
Once Jamieson entered the match for Tall in the 49th minute, the 18-year-old Galaxy forward showed flashes of his speed but could not threaten the Asian side’s net during his second-half shift. Jamieson may not have scored but a probing run by the striker helped the Americans notch the decisive goal just seven minutes after he entered the field.
With Rubio Rubin marching up field on the counter, an intelligent run by Jamieson pulled three defenders toward the 18-year-old, allowing the midfielder to find Hyndman in acres of space. Hyndman needed just one additional touch before lashing a right-footed blast to the far post to seal the three points.
Jamieson and the rest of the U.S. U-20’s continue their campaign against tournament hosts New Zealand on June 2 (12 a.m. PT/ Fox Sports 1) at QBE Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. Meanwhile Myanmar will look for their first win of the tournament against Ukraine.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
