U20 Men Overpower Jamaica

Americans in Good Position to Qualify for World Cup

March 7, 2009

BACOLET, Tobago � The U.S. Under-20 Men�s National Team defeated Jamaica 3-0 behind goals from Peri Marosevic, Dilly Duka and Billy Schuler to kick off the final round of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship.

Marosevic scored what would prove to be the game-winner in just the sixth minute. Duka, doubled the U.S. lead in the 79th minute and Schuler rounded out the scoring in the 84th minute, just five minutes after entering the game as a substitute.

Next up for the U.S. is a key game against Honduras on Sunday, March 8 at 6 p.m. ET. The U.S. currently sits on top of Group A with three points and can clinch a berth to the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt by virtue of securing one of the top two places in Group A.

�The first game of a tournament is always a tough one as we�ve essentially been working for a whole year to get here,� said U.S. head coach Thomas Rongen. �We are obviously extremely pleased with our result but we know we have to get better when we face two good opponents in Honduras and El Salvador.�

The game started at a fast pace with the U.S. making the most of their first dangerous attack. Duka, who was playing in his first-ever international game, dribbled past a pair of defenders in the box and sent the ball across the goal mouth for Danny Cruz. Cruz headed the ball down for Marosevic, who hit a side volley from close range that gave Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake no chance and gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead.

Cruz set up the USA�s second goal for Duka in the 78th minute. He battled down the sideline and slotted a perfectly placed ball into the penalty area. Marosevic ran over the ball, leaving Duka with a tap in and the New Jersey native finished off the play that doubled the U.S. lead.

A minute later, Rongen brought on 18-year-old Billy Schuler and his substitute paid immediate dividends. Gale Agbossoumonde flicked on a Duka corner right to Schuler, who was waiting at the far post. Schuler knocked the ball to round out the scoring on the night and help give the U.S. a major advantage in Group A.

The U.S. is looking to qualify for their record seventh-straight FIFA Under-20 World Cup. With 11 FIFA U-20 World Cup appearances, the U.S. has qualified more than any other CONCACAF nation, but has never won the regional crown.

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