USA Advances To 2019 Concacaf U-15 Boy’s Championship Semifinals With 2-0 Win Against Costa Rica

BRADENTON, Fla. (Aug. 8, 2019)—The U.S. Under-15 Boys’ National Team advanced to the 2019 Concacaf U-15 Boys’ Championship Semifinals with a 2-0 victory against Costa Rica. Osvaldo Cisneros netted two goals to send the USA one step closer to its second Concacaf U-15 Boys’ Championship final. With the result, the USA has not allowed a single goal in four matches at the tournament – a 280-minute stretch.

The USA will face Portugal in the semifinals on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 9 a.m. ET. The match will be streamed on Concacaf Facebook and will be open to the public. Canada and Slovenia will square off in the other semifinal at the same time.

Concacaf U-15 Boys’ Championship – Quarterfinal Results

USA 2, Costa Rica 0

Portugal 7, Haiti 0

Canada 2, Mexico 0

Slovenia 0 (4), Israel 0 (1)

The USA opened the scoring in the 11th minute. As Rokas Pukstas attempted to pass the ball upfield, a Costa Rica defender deflected it with his toe, but it bounced further upfield and behind the Ticos’ back line. Cisneros sprinted between the center backs onto the ball and slotted it past goalkeeper Abraham Madriz.

Rafael Jauregui teed up Cisneros’ second of the day after the break. Pukstas played the Sacramento Republic FC forward up the left wing. Driving towards the end line, Jauregui cut a cross back towards goal. Madriz got a hand on the cross at the near post, but his tip fell right to Cisneros waiting at the goal line, who hammered a header home to secure the victory.

The 18-player U.S. roster for the tournament is made up of 17 players born in 2004 and one born in 2005. Sixteen players have spent at least one season in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.

Forty-two teams across three divisions are competing at the Concacaf Boys’ U-15 Championship. Division 1’s 16-team field is composed of 14 top-ranked Concacaf nations as well as Portugal and Slovenia, participating as invited guest teams from UEFA. The winner of Division 1’s knockout round bracket will be crowned Concacaf champion.

 

- U.S. Under-15 Boys’ National Team Match Report -

Match: U.S. Under-15 Boys’ National Team vs. Costa Rica

Date: Aug. 8, 2019

Competition: 2019 Concacaf Under-15 Boys’ Championships

Venue: IMG Academy; Bradenton, Fla.

Weather: 85 degrees, humid

 

Scoring Summary:      1          2          F         

USA                             1          1          2         

CRC                              0          0          0

 

USA – Osvaldo Cisneros                                              12th minute

USA – Osvaldo Cisneros Reyes (Rafael Jauregui)       47

 

USA: 12-Damian Alguera, 2- Devan Tanton (16-Justin Reynolds, 60), 3-Armando Avila, 5-Antonio Leone, 7-Osvaldo Cisneros, 10-Evan Rotundo (9-Christian Dominick, 57), 13-Allan Rodriguez Lopez, 14-Angel Martinez, 15-Rokas Pukstas (6-Aethan Yohannes, 60), 17-Victor Valdez (8-Keenan Hot, 45), 18-Federico Oliva (11-Rafael Jauregui, 45)

Subs not used: Chris Brady, John Carlos Cortez

Head coach: Steve Klein

 

CRC: 1-Abraham Madriz, 4-Julian Gonzalez (3-John Ruiz, 56), 5-Brandon Calderon, 6-Ricardo Pena, 7-Josimar Alcocer, 8-Creichel Perez (9- Kishum Gouldbourne, 45; 17-Marcos Escoe, 56), 10-Andrey Salmeron, 11-Jewison Bennette, 14-Santiago Van Der Putte (2-Joseth Peraza, 29),15-Sebastian Salas, 16-Kenneth Gonzalez (13-Sebastian Rodriguez, 45)

Subs not used: Dyaln Carvajal, Marcos Escoe

Head coach: Harold Wallace

 

Stats Summary: USA / CRC

Shots: 7 / 8

Shots on Goal: 4 / 6

Saves: 6 / 4

Corner Kicks: 5 / 2

Fouls: 14 / 16

Offside: 0 / 0

 

Misconduct Summary:

USA – Kenan Hot (caution)                             53rd minute

 

Officials:

Referee: Okeito Nicholson (JAM)

Assistant Referee: Virgilio Baloy (PAN)

Assistant Referee: Exodus Pop (BLZ)

Fourth Official: Wayne Cartmel (ENG)