In the quarter-finals of the Under-20 World Cup, the USA went head-to-head against Uruguay, captained by Gaga Slonina. Despite a hard-fought match, the USA lost 2-0 to Uruguay, and their chance of winning the tournament came to a close.
Both teams had been vying for a spot in the semis to take on Israel, who had caused a major upset the previous day by beating Brazil. The game began on an even footing between the two teams, with the USA maintaining possession for a brief period. However, it was Uruguay who made the best of their chances and took home the win. One of the main factors that affected the game was the pitch, which was patchy and bare in places.
Throughout the match, several players struggled to keep their footing in the mud. The American players, in particular, had a difficult time and slipped more frequently than their opponents. The USA’s right-back slipped, which allowed Uruguay in to score the opening goal of the match. Gaga Slonina was powerless to stop the ball from reaching a Uruguay player who made a close-range tap-in.
In the second half, the USA’s luck deteriorated further. A low cross from the left initially seemed harmless, as it entered an area void of Uruguay players. Unfortunately, defender Joshua Wynder slipped at a critical moment and sliced the ball into his own goal. Despite Slonina’s spectacular efforts, she was unable to save the situation, and the ball went in.
The USA looked to pull one back late in the game, but their efforts were thwarted when one of their team-mates deflected the ball to prevent a goal. This was a frustrating end to the match, especially for Slonina, who had been impressive during the USA’s previous games. She kept a clean sheet in all four matches before the quarter-finals and could do little about the goals that resulted in their defeat.
For Chelsea, Cesare Casadei is now the only remaining representative in the Under-20 World Cup. He has been the competition’s top scorer, with six goals in five games, and will be playing with Italy against South Korea in the semis on Tuesday.
In conclusion, the USA’s match against Uruguay was a closely contested affair, but the pitch conditions proved to be a significant factor in their loss. Although Slonina had kept a clean sheet in previous matches, luck was not on her side this time. Nevertheless, the USA can be proud of their performances leading up to the quarter-final, and they still have plenty of talent that can perform at the highest level in the future.
