After two dominant outings to kick off the competition, Cuba provided the USA’s stiffest test at World Cup qualifying. While positioned in a low block, the Leones del Caribe defended fiercely, aggressively challenging the U.S. in possession.
The USA started to knock on the door around the quarter-hour mark as strong play on the wings created a number of dangerous chances. In the 13th, right back Gio Villa maneuvered the ball down the end line before a hard-hit cross into right winger Chance Cowell, but Cuba goalkeeper Leiniel Mosqueda swallowed his one-time attempt. On the other side, left winger Jamir Johnson played it inside to left back Pedro Guimaraes, but Mosqueda once again stopped the well-struck shot. Another nice cross came from midfielder Jude Terry in the 17th that Cowell put a bouncing header on, but the goalkeeper made a leaping save to thwart it.
Following continued pressure from the U-17s, the breakthrough finally came in the 23rd. Johnson was the sparkplug on the wing, playing to Carrizo driving into the box. As he pushed to the end line, he played a hard, low ball to Adams near the far post. Mosqueda came out to play the cross and Adams hammered it home for the game’s opening goal.
Johnson also helped create the USA’s second tally in the 31st. He wheeled around a defender and drove into the box, crossing it to an onrushing Carrizo who first-timed it to the back of the net.
Cowell had another few opportunities to grow the lead as the half wore down. He fired a header just wide in the 44th, had a shot saved after a nice transition sequence in the 45th and had another shot thwarted by Mosqueda after a nice cross from Adams in the first minute of stoppage time.
Despite the deficit, Cuba continued to fight down the stretch, playing aggressive defense and hitting the counterattack hard. Goalkeeper Jack Kortkamp saw the most action of any U.S. goalkeeper in the competition in the 69th, leaping to tip a booming shot from Cuba forward Lazaro Diaz at the top of the box over the bar. He also swallowed up Cuba’s attempt on the ensuing corner kick.
The U.S. pushed for more goals after the break, holding the better of possession and continuing to threaten from the wings. One of the best chances of the second half came in the 76th as midfielder Cooper Sanchez took a hit from the top of the box. Mosqueda dove to make a save, but the deflection spilled out to Adams. The angle proved too tight for his shot and it rippled the side netting. Second-half sub Lorenzo Cornelius also created some excitement in the 77th, rocketing a shot from the top of the box that sailed just high and combining with Adams for another good take in the 88th.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- The USA has now qualified for 19 of 20 FIFA U-17 World Cups, the most of any nation. Brazil has clinched berths in 18 U-17 World Cups and will aim to reach its 19th via the 2025 CONMEBOL U-17 Championship in March/April
- Adams (11 goals) and Carrizo (five) led the team in scoring at the Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers.
- The USA improves to 8-0-2 all-time vs. Cuba at U-17 World Cup qualifying. The U.S. is now 30-3-7 against Caribbean nations at the competition.
-U.S. U-17 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: United States Under-17 Men’s National Team vs. St. Kitts and Nevis
Date: Feb. 15, 2025
Competition: 2025 Concacaf Under-17 Qualifiers – Group F
Venue: Estadio Alejandro Morea Soto; Alajuela, Costa Rica
Attendance: 150
Kickoff: 7 p.m. local (8 p.m. ET)
Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
USA 2 0 2
CUB 0 0 0
USA – Chase Adams (Maximo Carrizo) 23rd minute
USA – Maximo Carrizo (Jamir Johnson) 31
Lineups:
USA: 1-Jack Kortkamp; 2-Gio Villa, 4-Christopher Cupps, 20-Enrique Martinez, 3-Pedro Guimaraes; 15-Cooper Sanchez, 8-Jude Terry (6-Luca Moisa, 71), 10-Maximo Carrizo (7-Kellan LeBlanc, 85); 17-Chance Cowell (19-Tanner Rosborough, 46), 9-Chase Adams (16-Cristiano Oliveira, 90+2), 11-Jamir Johnson (13-Lorenzo Cornelius, 71)
Substitutes not used: 12-Owen Pratt, 21-William Mackay, 5-Ramiz Hamouda, 14-Jordan Griffin, 18-Axel Uriostegui
Head coach: Gonzalo Segares
CUB: 12-Leiniel Mosqueda; 2-Anthony Milanes (10-Yankarlos Iglesias, 66), 3-Kevin Hernandez, 4-Jorge Margerdie,, 6-Anthuan Milanes, 8-Cristian Bravo, 9-Lazaro Diaz (19-Jonathan Duarte, 77), 11-Alexandro Rojas (7-Ivan Pacheco, 85), 14-Brayan Llorente (17-Brian Romero, 46), 15-Jennier Batista, 16-Deiby Borrell
Substitutes not used: 1-Diego Ramirez, 21-Kevin Mendez, 5-Jonathan Perez, 13-Cristhian Rodriguez, 18-Jose Terry, 20-Yoibel Veranes
Head coach: Sandro Sevillano
Stats Summary: USA / CUB
Shots: 32 / 5
Shots on Goal: 12 / 3
Saves: 2 / 10
Corner Kicks: 29 / 6
Fouls: 21 / 10
Offside: 1 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
CUB – Cristian Bravo (Caution) 25th minute
CUB – Brian Romero (Caution) 49
USA – Jamir Johnson (Caution) 53
CUB – Lazaro Diaz (Caution) 60
CUB – Deibi Lazaro (Caution) 70
USA – Cooper Sanchez (Caution) 77
CUB – Jennier Batista (Sent Off) 89
Officials:
Referee: Jose Valladares (HON)
Assistant Referee 1: Tristan Vermeulen (ARU)
Assistant Referee 2: Prince Albury (BAH)
Fourth Official: Momanaman Bedeau (GRN)
