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Despite flawed effort, under-20 Americans achieve their goal.
U.S. under-20 men World Youth Championship berth is earned with 1-0 decision over El Salvador.CHARLESTON, S.C. (Friday, November 15, 2002) -- It wasn't pretty, but the United States under-20 men qualified for a fourth straight World Youth Championship with a 1-0 victory over El Salvador before 1,346 at Blackbaud Stadium tonight. With Sunday' CONCACAF Group B finale against Canada remaining, the U.S. is 2-0, followed by Canada (1-0-1) which played a 0-0 draw with Haiti (0-1-1) tonight. The top two teams from this four-nation round robin advance to the world championships next March 26 to April 16 in the United Arab Emirates. "We came to this tournament with one goal, and tonight we accomplished that," said U.S. coach Thomas Rongen. "We knew coming into the game that three points would get us into the world championship, and although we didn't do it in a way I thought it would happen, we still did what we had to do. I am very proud of our guys, because tonight we battled against adversity and showed a tremendous amount of heart in a difficult situation." The Americans, who won on an own goal in the 85th minute, were reduced to 10 men when striker Santino Quaranta was shown a red card for a violent foul on Alexander Escobar. Rongen was ejected in the 87th minute for entering the field. Both Quaranta and Rongen are suspended for Sunday's meeting with Canada. Just when it looked like the U.S. would draw and Sunday's game would have some meaning, the U.S. scored on a bizarre play. Moments after midfielder Bobby Convey just missed the net with a left-footed free kick, Escobar attempting to clear a U.S. corner kick, instead headed it four yards into his own net to give the Americans a 1-0 lead. U.S. goalkeeper Steve Cronin produced five saves in the match, including three difficult stops in the final 11 minutes to preserve his second shutout of the tournament -- the Americans blanked Haiti 2-0 on Wednesda -- and fourth international clean sheet of the year. Cronin's best save came in the 79th minute when forward Roberto Ochoa broke into the penalty area alone, but his point-blank shot was snuffed when the keeper pounced off his line. The U.S. came up empty after a golden opportunity in the 40th minute. Midfielder Justin Mapp's cross skidded across the face of the goal, inches in front of a sliding Bobby Convey, but found Barclay all alone at the back post. Barclay's first touch produced a shot from 10 yards out that was rejected by sliding keeper Henry Hernandez. Notes: Quaranta played with a splint wrapped in soft foam on his left pinky finger which he broke in Wednesday's 2-0 decision over Haiti. Convey was able to play tonight with a substitute passport after having to sit out the opening U.S. match on Wednesday because he left his passport at home. CONCACAF is using passports here to verify players' ages. After arriving here, Convey realized he had left his home after using it several weeks ago when he traveled with D.C. United to England for an exhibition. After realizing he had forgotten it, Convey asked his sister to send it to Charleston, but it has noy yet arrivged. On Wednesday, U.S. team officials were originally told a copy of his birth certificate would suffice, but 20 minutes before kickoff, a CONCACAF official ruled only a passport would do. "It's really unfortunate. I feel like I let my team down," Convey said.
United States 1, El Salvador 0
Lineups: United States Steve Cronin, Jordan Harvey, Chad Marshall, Ryan Cochrane, C.J. Klaas, Justin Mapp, Ricardo Clark (Jordan Stone 78), Bobby Convey - captain) (David Johnson 90), Devin Barclay, Ed Johnson, Santino Quaranta. El Salvador - Henry Hernandez, Edwin Carranza, Alexander Escobar, Juan Carlos Villalta (Jose Ochoa 72), Enmanuel Castillo, Jhon Garcia, Marvin Bernal (Juan Bonilla 81), Dennis Alas (captain), Juan Francisco Leiva, Roberto Ochoa, Christian Carranza .
Scoring:
Shots: United States 13, El Salvador 8
Saves: United States 5, El Salvador 2
Corner kicks: United States 4, El Salvador 1
Fouls: United State 17, El Salvador 12
Offside: United States 2, El Salvador 6.
Yellow card cautions: United States - E. Johnson 58; El Salvador - Castillo 70, Carranza 82, Ochoa 83.
Red card ejections: United States - Quaranta 19, Thomas Rongen (coach) 87.
Referee: Armando Archundia (Mexico).
Assistant referees: Hector Delgadillo (Mexico), Amato Deluca (Canada).
Attendance: 1,346 at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C.
Weather: 51 degrees, clear, crisp.
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