US U-17 Men's World Cup Match #1 Result....

Ok folks, the first game of the U-17 World Cup is in the books. No, I didn't wake up to watch it. I don't have ESPNU. But I did catch the last 15 minutes on match tracker. Isn't that just the most fun...not. I wish all of these games made it onto the mainstream ESPN channels, maybe next time.

This looks like it would have been a fun one to watch. When I turned it on in the 75th minute the US held a 3-2 lead. The US came out with the early lead after Greg Garza and Mykell Bates hooked up for a 9th minute goal. However, Tajikistan scored the next two goals at went into halftime with a 2-1 lead.

After the break the US took the lead back with goals from Garza (48') and Schuler (53'). But the US couldn't put the match to bed and late in the game Tajikistan started to win most of the balls and get the chances. In the 82nd minute they scored their third goal to tie the game. After the restart they were trying to get the winning goal and the US needed to withstand the pressure. However, in the 86th minute they gave up a fourth goal. It seems the American defense wilted in the infamous Korean heat and humidity and gave Tajikistan too much time on the ball.

Tajikistan took good chances and made American keeper Zac MacMath work as 7 of their 9 shots were on frame. He let 4 of those shots into the goal. With that kind of shot production and those quality shots it takes a top notch effort from the keeper to win the game. The American defense is going to need to tighten up to keep their keeper better protected if they plan on making it into the knockout stages. The US was able to get the large majority of corner kicks taking 7 to Tajikistan's 1.

In stoppage time the Americans were able to create some chances and Ellis McLoughlin almost slipped one past Tajikistan's keeper. The US were not as efficient on the offensive side of things taking 8 shots with only 5 going on frame. Tajikistan only stopped 3 of the on frame shots so perhaps a few more on target would have produced the game tying goal. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. The Americans couldn't overcome giving up two goals in the last ten minutes of the match.

So it seems Tajikistan was a tougher opponent then originally thought. The small Asian nation was able to surprise the Americans and they took advantage of the chances given to them. The American defense is going to have to play much better for the team to have any success in this event. Defense is often the weakness in this age group for any team. The nation that can possess the ball and keep the other from moving towards goal will be the winner. Hopefully the Americans can figure that out by the next match against Tunisia on Thursday, 8/23.

For highlights of this first match, look to FIFA.