U.S. Men’s CP National Comeback Falls Short in 4-2 Loss to Argentina in World Cup Placement Match

SALOU, Spain (November 19, 2024) - The U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team fought back from a two-goal deficit to Argentina, but ultimately fell 4-2 on two late goals in the 5th-8th Placement Match at the 2024 IFCPF World Cup. Captain and midfielder Ben Lindau and the versatile forward-turned-goalkeeper-turned defender Jacob Crumbley each scored their third goals at this competition.

The USA will next face Germany in the 7th-8th Placement Match on Friday, November 21 (3:30 a.m. ET). Germany finished second in Group D, then fell to Netherlands in the Quarterfinal, and to England in the 5th-8th Placement match.

Today’s match came a year to the date of the last time these teams faces off in the 2023 Parapan American Games group stage in Chile, where the South American side came away with a 2-1 win over a U.S. team that played a man down for more than a half. Many players returned from both teams, and the game was again closely contested.

Argentina had the better of play early on, and would have gone ahead after 13 minutes if not for an excellent diving save from USA goalkeeper Marc Estrella low to his right on a strike from Matias Fernandez. Estrella was quick to get up and also smothered the second-chance attempt from Rodrigo Lugrin.

They then took the lead on a fantastic left-footed volley from 20 yards by Matias Bassi. Argentina doubled its lead minutes later when the referee whistled Wesley Pincince for a penalty kick after clearing the ball away from Fernandez. Bassi converted the penalty.

The USA got the goal back a minute later when Shea Hammond was taken down in the box. Lindau stepped up and scored his third goal on the tournament.

Shortly after the break, Lindau was taken down outside the top right side of the area. Frankie Lowery sent in a low free kick to the near post that was blocked. The rebound fell to the on-rushing Crumbley who calmly shot past the scrum to level the match with this third goal of the competition.

But Argentina would regain momentum. Estrella made another excellent kick save on Lugrin, then tipped a shot from Bassi off the crossbar, denied Fernandez on a hard shot at the left post, blocked German Romussi shot off a corner, and made a low save off Lugrin’s close-range shot.

Argentina found the difference off the play of second-half substitute Mariano Morana, who finished a solo effort from 14 yards out with five minutes to play, and sealed the game late in stoppage time from a tight angle right of the goal.

-U.S. MEN’S CP NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: United States Men’s CP National Team vs. Argentina
Date: Nov. 19, 2024
Competition: 2024 IFCPF World Cup – Group C
Venue: Mediterranean Sports Village; Salou, Spain
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. local (6:30 a.m. ET)
Weather: 64 degrees, sunny

Lineups:
USA: 1-Marc Estrella, 2-Frankie Lowery (6-Jacob Kaplan, 58); 3-Jacob Crumbley, 4-Wesley Pincince; 5-John Sullivan, 10-Ben Lindau (Capt.), 7-Shea Hammond
Substitutes not used:8-Michael Ruiz, 12-Chileshe Chitulangoma, 13-Kyle Montgomery, 14-Gavin Kohner
Not Available: 9-Cameron DeLillo
Not Eligible: 11-Nick Mayhugh
Head coach: Stuart Sharp

ARG: 1-Sergio Nahuel Gutierrez, 2-Mariano Cortes, 3-Rodrigo Lugrin, 4-German Romussi, 5-Carlos Leonardo Carrizo (Bautista Suarez Carboneti, 23), 8-Matias Bassi (6-Mariano Morana, 46), 9-Matias Fernandez.
Substitutes not used: 12-Facundo Godoy, 10-Cristian Nicolas Billordo, 11-Rodrigo Luquez, 13-Renzo Alaniz, 14-Matias Vera
Head coach: Omar Arreguito

Misconduct Summary:
ARG - Matias Fernandez (Caution) 39th Minute

Officials:
Referee: Akmal Rahimov (UZB)
Second Official: Jose Antonio Mateo Moreno (ESP)
Third Official: Pau Barnils Delgado (ESP)