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The U-20s are on a heater.
The group of young Americans advanced to the FIFA U-20 World Cup quarterfinals by trouncing New Zealand 6-0 Thursday in Incheon, South Korea. The U-20s now move on to face Venezuela Sunday. The match will kick off at midnight in the Mountain time zone.
As has been the case throughout the tournament, Real Salt Lake's impressive young core was there to help lead the way. RSL defender Justen Glad and winger Brooks Lennon each bagged a goal and an assist in the rout. Glad's start at right back was his first since March 5, the CONCACAF Championship final match he suffered a right knee injury in.
Glad's 32nd-minute volley zipped through traffic, deflecting off the knee of forward Josh Sargent, who gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead in the first half. From there, the second half was a steamroll. Lennon's goal in the 65th minute was a perfectly-placed shot to the far post after out-running his defender. Glad's goal, a header mishandled by the New Zealand goalkeeper, in the 76th came off a corner kick send into the box by Lennon.
Park City's Sebastian Saucedo came on in the 79th minute and notched an assist on his corner kick that was nailed into the back of the net by another substitute, Auston Trusty. RSL's Danny Acosta started his fourth-straight match in the win.
The margin of victory ties the largest set by the U.S. at a U-20 World Cup. The Americans beat Turkey in the opening match of the 1993 U-20 World Cup in Australia. What lies ahead for the U.S. is its biggest test in this tournament.
Venezuela has yet to concede a goal in four matches. The U-20 showdown will follow the U.S. men's national team's international friendly against the Venezuelan senior team at Rio Tinto Stadium Saturday evening in Sandy.
A win puts the U.S. in the U-20 World Cup semifinals for the first time since 1989.