U.S. under-20 men

Argentina's last-second rally produces 2-1 OT win in world quarterfinals.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (Friday, December 12, 2003) -- The United States under-20 men came within moments of advancing to the semifinals, but were stunned when midfielder Javier Mascherano tied the game in the fourth minute of injury time and striker Fernando Cavenaghi put away a penalty kick 10 minutes into sudden death, sending Argentina to a 2-1 triumph at the FIFA World Youth Championships at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium tonight.

The Americans finished fifth in the 24-nation field, their best finish since 1989. "We came out and played one of the best teams in the world down to the wire," U.S. under-20 coach Thomas Rongen said. "Unfortunately, we got a bit unlucky as they scored with just seconds left."

"Getting to the quarterfinals was a goal of ours after we won our group, but so was getting to the semifinals. Argentina was able to get the tying goal in the fourth minute and then get the penalty kick in overtime. We know we deserved to be in the semifinal match just as much as Argentina, but unfortunately we’re not moving on."

Argentina, which has won three of the last four under-20 world championships, will face Brazil in the semifinals.

Four minutes of stoppage time were added and Argentina needed every second of that time to even the score. Argentina goalkeeper Gustavo Eberto came up to the center stripe to collect a long U.S. clearance from its penalty area and sent the ball back to the top left of the box. Reserve midfielder Franco Cangele played the ball with the outside of his left foot and placed a perfect ball to Mascherano who found space between U.S. defenders Zak Whitbread and Steve Cochrane and headed the ball into the right corner of the net for the 1-1 tie.

In replays, Mascherano appeared a step or two offside. Seconds later, regulation ended.

"We were leading with about 15 seconds left and one of their players got in behind our defense for a header," U.S. goalkeeper Steve Cronin said. "I think (Mascherano) may have been offsides, but the linesman didn’t see it. We didn’t let down on the goal, we just got a bit unlucky."

Ten minutes into the first of two potential 15-minute overtime periods, Cangele carried into the left side of the box. U.S. defender Drew Moor swung his right leg, trying to clear the ball, but instead whacked Cangele across both thighs.

"There’s not much to say," Rongen said. "I think the referee did a fair job all night and that was the call he made. Maybe we got a bit unlucky, but that’s not what we are going to concentrate on. We put ourselves in a position to win tonight. Iit just didn’t work out."

With a penalty kick awarded, Cavenaghi drove the ball inside the left post, just beyond the reach of a diving Cronin to seal the dramatic comeback victory.

The U.S. went ahead 1-0 in the 59th minute after striker Freddy Adu carried about 60 yards following an Argentina corner kick. Adu finally fed forward to midfielder Bobby Convey who had cut left to shed his defender. From 18 yards, Convey blasted a low left-footer that went through Eberto's hands.

"It was a great counterattack and I knew when Freddy got the ball he was going to push forward," Convey said. "It was just a two-on-two and Freddy got the ball to me as I came across from the right. I ran between the two defenders and I just tried to shoot in near post.

"We played one of the best team here to the final seconds. I think this will only help us down the road."

In the first half, Argentina carried most of the possession, but neither side was able to create many chances on goal. Despite some early attacks ignited by Osmar Ferreyra from the left flank, which caused some havoc for the U.S. defense, Argentina was only able to get two shots on frame, both off of free kicks.

The U.S. back line, along with help from midfielder Ricardo Clark, did an good job of collapsing on Cavenaghi and fellow forward German Herrera whenever they touched the ball in the final third.

On the other end, the U.S. was able to play combinations in the midfield, but could not create any danger around the Argentina goal.

The Americans did have an opportunity in the ninth minute. Right midfielder Justin Mapp found some room and served a low cross near the top of the 18-yard box which striker Ed Johnson dummied, allowing the ball to slip through to Convey. The U.S. captain stretched out to hit a left-footed shot on frame, but Eberto dove to his right post to knock the ball away. With the ball bounding free in the six-yard box, defender Mauricio Romero cleared before Adu could get to it.

Argentina came close to taking an early lead in the 29th minute when Cavenaghi drove a free kick that Cronin tipped away at the top right corner of his goal.

Argentina put the U.S. under high pressure and garnered a number of shots on goal in the first five minutes after intermission. In the 48th minute, midfielder Hugo Colace fed Cavenaghi on a counterattack for a chip that had to be punched over the crossbar by Cronin. Argentina kept up the pressure and, a minute later, midfielder Walter Montillo crossed to defender Gonzalo Rodriguez who sent a sliding shot high over the bar.

Soon after the Americans assumed the lead,. Herrera got free inside the box and took a hard shot that was deflected wide by defender Chad Marshall and then cleared by Cronin. In the 68th minute, Cronin stopped Cavenaghi's shot from 14 yards.

It momentarily looked as though Argentina had found the equalizer in the 71st minute when a poor clearance by Cronin hit an Argentine and bounced forward to Herrera for an easy finish. However, Herrera and a teammate were both clearly offside.

In the 75th minute, the U.S. should have gone ahead by two when Convey found Johnson eight yards from the middle of the Argentine goal, but his header sailed well high.

Cronin came up with his biggest save of the night in the 80th minute, elevating to tip away Cavenaghi's curling 25-yard free kick. Cronin snagged defender Jonathan Bottinelli's header while seated on the turf.

Early into overtime, Mascherano had a point-blank shot from right of the goal, eight yards out, but Cronin stopped it.

"In a game like that, you can only hope to play your best," Cronin said. "Overall, I was trying to keep the lead for the team. I can’t really feel anything right now, except for the fact that I’m proud of my team and happy about how we played. Unfortunately, it didn’t come out in our favor.

"We put everything we had in us out on that field. We knew we were the better team. To lose like this in the quarterfinals of the world championship makes it that much harder. I thought the team bonded during the tournament and became a really close-knit group. I couldn’t be prouder."

Johnson, who tallied four goals in the tournament, tied Taylor Twellman as the top scorer for the U.S. in any under-20 world championship.

"We grew as a team, game after game, and we got better and better with each match," Johnson said. "We all knew our roles and played them really well."

Referee: Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez (Spain), Assistant referees: Clemente Ayete Plou (Spain), Rafael Guerrero (Spain). Venue: Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Weather: Warm, 75 degrees.