Sporting Kansas City homegrown signing Jaylin Lindsey and the United States all but clinched a spot in the FIFA U-17 World Cup knockout rounds with a 1-0 group stage victory over Ghana on Monday at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India.
Lindsey (No. 2 pictured above) started and played 90 minutes at right back for the second straight game, contributing to another U.S. shutout after featuring in last Friday's 3-0 win against India. Monday's opponent proved a sterner test, but a back-and-forth battle was decided in the 75th minute when substitute Ayo Akinola found the back of the net.
2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup Group A Standings
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>Points</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>T</strong> |
<strong>GF</strong> |
<strong>GA</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
United States |
6 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
+4 |
Ghana |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Colombia |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
India |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
-4 |
The narrow triumph puts head coach John Hackworth's side in cruise control in Group A, three points ahead of the chasing pack. The U.S. can clinch first place in the group with a draw against Colombia in Thursday's contest at Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, kicking off at 9:30 a.m. CT on FS2 and Universo. Even if the Americans lose in their group stage finale, they are likely to advance as either the second-place finisher in Group A or as one of the four best third-place finishers across the six groups.
A total of 24 countries are competing in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India. Upon conclusion of the group stage, the Round of 16 will run from Oct. 16-18, followed by the quarterfinals (Oct. 21-22) and semifinals (Oct. 25). The championship and third-place matches will take place Saturday, Oct. 28, at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata.
USA Group Stage Schedule
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Opponent / Result</strong> |
<strong>Time (CT)</strong> |
<strong>TV</strong> |
<strong>Stadium</strong> |
Friday, Oct. 6 |
W 3-0 vs. India |
9:30am |
FS2 |
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium; New Delhi |
Monday, Oct. 9 |
W 1-0 vs. Ghana |
6:30am |
FS2 |
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium; New Delhi |
Thursday, Oct. 12 |
vs. Colombia |
9:30am |
FS2 |
Dr. DY Patil Stadium; Navi Mumbai |
