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U-17 World Cup Qualifiers, USA 3:0 Jamaica

Pre-tournament favorites USA scored two goals in the first half and cruised to a 3:0 defeat of Jamaica in the opening match of Group A of the CONCACAF Under-17 final junior tournament Wednesday at Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala. Meanwhile, in the evening?s second encounter, El Salvador overcame a two-goal deficit to tie the hosts 2:2.

USA opened the scoring just six minutes into the proceedings, 13-year-old (only 13) Freddy Adu beating two Jamaica defenders on the left before rifling a pass across the penalty area to Corey Ashe, who slotted home from six yards away.

The USA doubled their advantage in the 38th minute, and again it was Adu getting the play started. His short corner found Guillermo Gonzalez, whose cross was headed home by John DiRaimondo to make it 2:0 at the interval.

After the break, Jamaica looked to cut into the lead immediately, launching an all-out assault on the goal of U.S. ?keeper Phil Marfuggi. The net-minder, however, was up to the challenge, turning aside the Reggae Boyz? best efforts, including a Kemar Munroe free kick that he was barely able to tip over the bar.

The Reggae Boyz spirits received a severe blow in the 69th minute when Andrew Fraser was sent off for his second yellow card of the match, ending any thoughts of a comeback. Adu added a goal in stoppage time to ensure a 3:0 victory for the North Zone representatives.

The second game of the evening was a back and forth battle between the two Central American rivals.

After the hosts controlled the opening minutes of the match, Jhonny Brown put them in front in the fifth minute, rising above the El Salvador defence to get his head to well-placed cross and deposit it in the back of the net.

With the chapines continuing to push forward after the early tally, Brown added to the lead in the 37th minute. This time, the striker collected a pass in the center of the penalty area before shooting into the upper right corner of the El Salvador goal to make it 2:0.

The visitors climbed back into the match before the interval, however. Jose Ochoa?s pass from the center of the area found Carlos Calderón waiting along the endline, who put the finishing touches on the goal to cut the lead in half.

El Salvador drew even in the 67th minute when Chrisopher Dulce gathered a cross along the left flank and put a rising shot far post that beat Guatemala ?keeper Ricardo Jerez.

Despite their best efforts in the final 20 minutes, reverting once again to an all-out attack, the hosts were unable to take the lead again, much to the chagrin of the 2,000 spectators cheering them on.

The USA will play El Salvador in Friday?s second matchday, while Guatemala and Jamaica will also meet one another.

Source: www.concacaf.com

Picture: Newsweek