Indiana University Athletics
U.S. Under-20s Falls in Round of 16
7/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
June 22, 2005
ENCHEDE, Holland - The United States Under-20 National Team's run through the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship came to an end on Tuesday, June 21, falling 3-1 to Italy in the Round of 16. After winning Group D with a 2-0-1 record, the U.S. fell victim to a trio of second half goals in defeat. The match was held at Arke Stadium as the U.S. was attempting to make the quarterfinals for the second straight championship.
"Obviously, we are disappointed," United States Under-20 head coach Sigi Schmid said. "You've got to finish opportunities when you get them and we just weren't able to do that today, much to the efforts of Italy's goalkeeper who came up with a number of good saves. We had a chance to go up 2-0 right before halftime and if we score that goal, it makes a huge difference in the game. We just didn't handle the second half very well and they used the chances they had."
Indiana junior forward Jacob Peterson came on as an offensive substitution with the U.S. trailing 3-1 in the 76th minute. Peterson appeared in all four games for the U.S. at the World Youth Championship, while making one start. He also scored the game-winner for the United States against Egypt, giving the U.S. the Group D title.
Peterson has made 12 appearances, eight international, with the Under-20 National team in 2005. He has 11 career caps for the U20s with three career goals. Incoming Hoosier freshman Lee Nguyen did not appear in the final match at the World Youth Championship, but did play in a pair of matches, including a start against Egypt. This year, Nguyen has played in 11 matches with four international appearances for the U20s.
The National Team took a 1-0 advantage in the 44th minute on a penalty kick from Colorado Rapids (MLS) midfielder Hunter Freeman. D.C. United (MLS) star Freddy Adu earned the penalty for the U.S. after he was taken down in the box , trying to move past a defender to the right of the goal. Adu took the attempt but it was saved by Italian goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano. Fortunately for the U.S., the referee whistled Viviano for moving early, and Hunter Freeman made Italy pay. He rifled home the second attempt just inside the left post for his first-ever goal with the U20s.
Italy evened the match early in the second half on an own goal in the 54th minute. Italian forward Graziano Pelle fed midfielder Daniele Galloppa at the top of the 18-yard box. Galloppa fired a shot that would have sailed wide of the left post, but it deflected off the back of U.S. defender Jonathan Spector. U.S. goalkeeper Quentin Westberg had a beat on the ball, but with the deflection had no chance as it fell into the opposite corner.
Eight minutes later, Italy would take the advantage with Pelle and Galloppa hooking up once again. Galloppa gained control of the ball 40 yards from goal following a tackle on Spector. The Italian midfielder pushed the ball up to Pelle, who faked a right-footed shot and cut back on defender Marvell Wynne before scoring into the upper-left corner of the goal.
The final Italian goal and the match capper came as a result of a U.S. defensive misque in the 75th minute. U.S. defender Patrick Ianni attempted to clear a ball up the sideline, but Italy's Simone Bentivoglio was able to tackle the ball away and track down the ball before it went over the endline. Bentivoglio crossed the ball through the legs of Spector and as Westberg came out for the low service Sacha Kljestan accidentally toe-poked the ball into his own net.
The U.S. Under-20 National Team finished their two-year cycle with a 16-6-4 international record, with 13 of the 16 victories coming under the direction of Schmid, who took over in November of 2003. The U.S. will finish the tournament no lower than 14th place and no higher than 10th, depending on the other four results in the Round of 16.
