The United States Under-20 side qualified for the quarterfinals of the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Colombia on Wednesday but if they’re to advance further in the tournament they’ll likely have to do so without Bradford Jamieson IV after the forward suffered a frightening injury.
Rubio Rubin scored the only goal for the Americans as they dispatched Los Cafeteros despite Jamieson’s injury and a late expulsion of Kellyn Acosta that forced the U.S. to play down a man for the final seven minutes.
Jamieson’s injury came in the opening minutes of the match when the LA Galaxy striker fell awkwardly on his right side. The 18-year-old remained on the field for nearly seven minutes as the U.S. Soccer medical staff attended to him before being stretched off the pitch. Jamieson was later taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
After the delay, the Colombians began to control the match but found themselves unable to test goalkeeper Zack Steffen due to an organized U.S. defense that kept the South Americans at bay.
Colombia continued to dictate the tempo into the second half but fell behind in the 58th minute when the Americans scored completely against the run of play. The goal came off a quick counterattack by the U.S. that ended with Rubin smashing a deflected Paul Arriola shot past the Colombian goalkeeper for the lone American goal.
After the American goal, the Colombians pressed forward in search of the equalizer and were given a golden opportunity in the 83rd minute when Acosta was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Rodin Quinones in the penalty area. Jarlan Barrera stepped up to take the spot kick but Steffen spectacularly saved his penalty.
Moments later the Colombians had another opportunity to pull level but Arriola was there to clear the ball off the line and preserve the U.S. U-20’s fourth consecutive victory over CONMEBOL opposition.
The U-20’s will now face European side Serbia in the quarterfinals on June 14 at Auckland. The trip to the quarterfinals is the fourth-time in U.S. history that the U-20 side has advanced past the Round of 16.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
