USA Defeats El Salvador In Extra Time To Qualify For U-17 World Cup

The United States had little trouble in the group stage of the tournament hosted by Jamaica. The U.S. went right through the group stage by defeating Cuba 3-1 and Panama 1-0, but if they lost to El Salvador in Tuesday’s quarterfinal, they would be eliminated from the tournament and forced to watch the World Cup from home. El Salvador finished second in their group, but it was only a two-team group after Haiti withdrew from the tournament so there wasn’t a ton to be taken from that finish.

A lively start by the Yanks put El Salvador on the back foot and it paid off quickly when San Diego native Alejandro Guido got on the end of a cross by Joe Amon and headed the ball past the keeper for a 1-0 U.S. lead just four minutes in.