Posted at 6:19 a.m., Monday, August 20, 2007
Soccer: United States falls in under-17 World Cup
Associated Press
CHANGWON, South Korea — The United States conceded two goals in the last eight minutes of regulation in a 4-3 upset loss to Tajikistan at the under-17 World Cup today.In a seesawing match, the Americans opened the scoring but then fell behind 2-1 before leveling just after halftime when Greg Garza latched onto Billy Schuler's lobbed pass in the 48th minute.
Schuler made it 3-2 with his powerful header from an Alex Nimo corner in the 53rd and the U.S. team was on course for victory until Nuriddin Davronov equalized a minute after coming on in the 81st and Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev scored the clincher for the central Asian lineup in the 86th.
Tajikistan, third in Asian qualifying, was making its debut at the under-17 tournament. The United States has featured in every edition.
Elsewhere, Germany let a two-goal lead slip and tied Colombia 3-3, Ghana beat Trinidad and Tobago 4-1 and Tunisia held off Belgium 4-2 despite playing much of the second half with 10 men.
Cristian Nazarith kicked a penalty in the 66th minute and lashed an equalizer three minutes from time to earn Colombia a the draw in the opening Group G match.
Germany dominated possession early but Colombia struck first when captain Miguel Julio met a free kick with a pinpoint header in the 14th minute.
Dennis Dowidat made it 1-1 in the 34th with a strike from a tight angle and Richard Sukuta-Pasu gave the Germans a 2-1 halftime lead when he finished off an attacking raid on the right side.
Dowidat increased the buffer to two goals when he combined with Toni Kroos in the 49th minute, but the Germans let the lead slip with Nazarith scoring twice in the last 25 minutes to ensure the draw.
Youssef Msaki scored twice in Tunisia's Group E win over Belgium.
Oussama Boughanmi opened the scoring in the 20th minute and Khaled Ayari met Nour Hadria's corner kick at the first post to double the lead four minutes later.
Belgium rallied with two goals in nine minutes to Nill Depauw and Kevin Kiss to equalize before Tunisia again took the lead just on halftime when Msakni scored his first.
Boughanmi was sent off after collecting his second booking in the 52nd minute, although Belgium was unable to capitalize and Msakni gave the 10-man Tunisia lineup a two-goal cushion with a goal in the 79th.
Groups A and B are back in action Tuesday. Hosts South Korea take on Costa Rica and Peru against Togo at Suwon in Group A, with England facing New Zealand and Brazil against North Korea in Group B matches at Jeju.
