USA vs Fiji score, highlights as USYNT ride big second half to earn ...
The United States U-20 side picked up a necessary three points, topping Fiji 3-0 to secure qualification to the knockout stages with a game still to go in group stage play.
Yet, in truth, it was all a bit disappointing, as they wasted countless chances and failed to run up the score, leaving them short on goal differential, which could come into play in the standings.
Still, it was a gritty performance by Mikey Varas’s side, as Diego Luna, Cade Cowell, and Caleb Wiley all netted up second-half goals to secure the victory. Fiji defended in a low block the entire match, pouring players behind the ball and making it extremely difficult for the U.S. to find a way through. When they did unlock the Oceania side, the finishing touches were desperately poor, and the Americans grew increasingly frustrated.
Finally, after 66 minutes, substitute Luna provided the finish to make the much-needed breakthrough, and Cowell’s exceptional finish doubled the lead to wrap up the points late in the match. Cowell then hit the woodwork twice in stoppage time, but the U.S. found a third through Caleb Wiley in the dying minutes.
After Slovakia, next up for the USYNT, beat this Fiji side 4-0 in the opener, they will hold the goal differential tiebreaker should they play to a draw in the group finale and finish level on points in the standings.
The Sporting News followed the USA vs Fiji U-20s match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happened.
MOON BOY ???? @diegoluna1511 pic.twitter.com/OygBzV0Wmf
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 23, 2023 USA U-20 vs Fiji final score Score Goal scorers USA 3 Diego Luna (66'), Cade Cowell (88'), Caleb Wiley (99') Fiji 0 —Confirmed lineups:
USA (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Slonina (GK) — 2. Halliday, 14. Ferkranus, 5. Craig, 13. Gomez — 8. McGlynn, 6. Edelman (Vargas, 79'), 16. Wolff (Tsakiris, 46') — 7. Sullivan (Luna, 46'), 19. Yapi (Wiley, 75'), 9. Cowell.
Fiji (4-5-1, right to left): 1. Mustahib (GK) — 17. Fataul, 2. Ravai, 21. Vasconcellos, 16. Kubu (Navoce, 73') — 5. Saqiri (Rabuka, 55'), 7. Khan (Matau, 80'), 6. Dunn, 4. Aiyas, 10. Begg — 9. Ali (Razool, 73').
MORE: Complete FIFA U20 World Cup schedule through to the final
USA vs Fiji live updates, highlights, commentary FULL-TIME: USA 3-0 FijiThe United States could have won by a lot more, and probably should have, but they'll absolutely take the three points after striking thrice in the second half. They were much sharper in the second half, largely thanks to the introduction of Diego Luna and Nico Tsakiris after the break.
Unfortunately, they couldn't quite match Slovakia's 4-0 scoreline against Fiji, meaning that if the two meet in the final group match level on points, the U.S. will have to win to top the group.
12 - The @USYNT is the fifth team to score in each of their first 12 all-time games at the FIFA U20 World Cup after Argentina, Brazil, Germany and Ghana. Attack. pic.twitter.com/z30OPeSHA6
— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) May 23, 2023 USA vs. Fiji: Second Half90+10 min: Fiji have a rare opportunity late in this one, but Gaga Slonina gets down to stop a shot from a tight angle.
90+9 min: GOAL! USA! The U.S. have a third, this time off a set-piece, and in truth, it's a brutal bit of goalkeeping from Aydin Mustahib to allow Caleb Wiley's tap-in. Brandan Craig's low, slow-rolling free-kick somehow evades Mustahib's late dive and hits the post, and it caroms directly into the line of Wiley trailing the play for an uncontested tap-in. They'll take it!
THEY CAN'T STOP SCORING!@ATLUTD'S CALEB WILEY ADDS TO THE @USYNT LEAD! ???????? pic.twitter.com/qkvvYLknmw
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 23, 202390+2 min: Chance, USA! You have to be kidding me! Now Cade Cowell hits the post! Two times smashing the woodwork in quick succession! He gets a feed from Diego Luna and hits it one-time, but his curler only finds the far post and bounds out. How unlucky is that??
90+2 min: Chance, USA! CADE COWELL RATTLES THE CROSSBAR! It's a powerful volley from Cowell, seeing his initial effort blocked but rifling the rebound with a leg whip from just left of the penalty spot. His powerful blast hits the underside of the woodwork and caroms out. Unlucky!
90+1 min: 11 minutes of stoppage time is shown by the fourth official, as Diego Luna picks up a yellow card.
88th min: GOAL! USA! It's a BEAUTIFUL hit from Cade Cowell, which wraps up the three points for the United States! Diego Luna pulls down an entry feed with his back to goal, and he finds Cowell atop the penalty area who shakes off a defender and finishes exquisitely. It's easily the best moment in front of goal for the U.S. all match, and a moment of quality that had largely been missing all game.
Job done in terms of the result, but they're still behind Slovakia on goal differential, after the European side picked up a 4-0 win over this Fiji side in the opener.
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 23, 202383rd min: Referees are needed to calm tempers as Jonathan Gomez does not appreciate some extra-curricular activity from Mohammed Fataul. No cautions dished out.
Things are getting chippy at the San Juan del Bicentenario ???????? pic.twitter.com/cqroPZNx6m
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 23, 202378th min: Chance, USA! Jonathan Gomez delivers a pinpoint cross low to the feet of Cade Cowell who was unmarked at the far post, but his one-time shot is blazed wide. He argues there was a deflection off a defender, but the referee gives a goal kick, and it didn't appear like there was any touch through.
Dan Edelman exits, making way for Obed Vargas and handing the captain's armband to Jack McGlynn. For Fiji, Arshad Khan is stretchered off injured, replaced by Enriko Matau. Fiji players appear to be tiring, and it's causing problems with fitness.
75th min: Both sides make substitutions, as Caleb Wiley enters for the U.S. in place of Darren Yapi, while Fiji bring Samuel Navoce and Gulam Razool off the bench to replace Gaery Kubu and Faazil Ali.
The U.S. players look injected with life after the opening goal. It seems like Diego Luna has taken over at central striker in Yapi's place.
68th min: Chance, USA! Moments after Diego Luna puts the U.S. in front, he absolutely skies a brilliant chance to double the lead! It's a cross from deep down the left to Luna in a central location, completely unmarked from about eight yards out, but he rushes it and hits the ball first time, blasting it into orbit.
???? @realsaltlake's Diego Luna nearly makes a brace for himself! pic.twitter.com/AWS7D0g5Fk
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 23, 202366th min: GOAL! USA! The opener came much later than expected, but the U.S. have their breakthrough! It's the substitute Diego Luna who is the one to finish off a beautiful one-touch buildup, ripping a curler inside the far post.
The initial feed came to Cade Cowell with his back to goal, and while he was dispossessed, going down under the challenge and wanting a penalty, the referee let play continue, and Luna pounced on the loose ball, producing his much-needed finish.
RESISTANCE BROKEN ????@realsaltlake's Diego Luna puts the @USYNT ahead 1-0! pic.twitter.com/qraI2Kqaa1
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 23, 202365th min: In a moment emblematic of the U.S. attack through the opening hour of this match, Brandan Craig pings a ball into Niko Tsakiris in a dangerous area near the top of the penalty area, but it's cooked a bit much and Tsakiris can't handle the laser feed.
Why can't US men national teams score goals in major competitions?
Kind of a big deal..
60th min: Fiji goalkeeper Aydin Mustahib is down receiving treatment after getting clobbered by Darren Yapi while off his line challenging for a delivery. He's up and ready to continue, but not after milking about 60 precious seconds off the clock. Expect more of that from the minnows if this game rolls on and remains scoreless.
57th min: Jack McGlynn brilliantly picks out Cade Cowell at the back post with a great long-ball delivery from deep, but it's just inches too deep and Cowell can't meet it with an effort on frame.
52nd min: Chance, USA! Cade Cowell does well cutting inside to create his own attempt, and forces a save out of Aydin Mustahib! It's an awkward one for the Fiji goalkeeper, as the ball bounces directly in front of him, but he does well to get down and push the ball wide.
Before the U.S. corner, treatment is required for Sakiusa Saqiri, and the stretcher is brought out. They're working on his right leg, and he'll need to be carried off. A sub is required, as Apisai Rabuka enters.
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 23, 2023Kickoff: A few changes from U.S. head coach Mikey Varas as the second half begins, as Niko Tsakiris enters for Owen Wolff, who changed positions from the opener against Ecuador to this game, dropping from wing to midfield. Diego Luna also enters for Quinn Sullivan, who was poor in the final third through the opening 45 minutes.
Fiji earn their first corner of the match straight off the kickoff, and Gaga Slonina is forced into a save to keep the underdogs out. A good start from Fiji!
???? @GabrielSlonina WITH THE SAVE FOR THE @USYNT U-20s ???????? pic.twitter.com/7OFGzgNT4X
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 23, 2023 HALF-TIME: USA 0-0 FijiAn incredibly disappointing first 45 minutes from the United States in the final third, and they fail to score against a team they're expected to clobber.
The buildup was good, but the likes of Quinn Sullivan, Darren Yapi, and Cade Cowell struggled mightily to finish their chances, hardly even testing Fiji goalkeeper Ayden Mustahib. The U.S. forward struggled especially with their first touches, and then the resulting efforts often went wide or high.
Fiji defended well in their low block, but hardly had any counter attacks. They have fouled consistently, but done so in situations that didn't warrant a yellow card, and have largely been disciplined in their own penalty area. A quality 45 minutes from their perspective, and have no reason to come out of their shell at any point, happy to play for a point.
For Varas, the job here at HT is to keep his team calm. Finishing has been ugly, and the players know that. He's going to have to keep it positive at HT.
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) May 23, 2023We remain scoreless at the break in San Juan between the @USYNT and Fiji! ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/yaVRkmAhqf
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 23, 2023 USA vs Fiji: First Half44th min: There is a significant delay as Faazil Ali goes off for treatment and then was allowed back on during a Fiji throw, but then the referee tells him to go back off and wait. The long stoppage in play prompts a frustrated "what is going on, sir???" from someone in the U.S. contingent which can be heard on the broadcast.
Once play restarts, the U.S. regain possession and Sakiusa Saqiri gets a yellow card for fouling Owen Wolff. There are three added minutes shown before halftime.
40th min: Chance, USA! Another wayward strike! Dan Edelman does brilliantly to combine with Owen Wolff and get forward to the top of the penalty area, weaving around defenders in the process. It comes to Quinn Sullivan who finds Darren Yapi with a vertical ball, but is sliced effort is wide left — again. Groans from the crowd.
38th min: Jack McGlynn earns the game's first yellow card for hacking Nabil Begg to stop a counter.
34th min: How has Darren Yapi botched that?? A cross into the box is cleared poorly by Sterling Vasconcellos, and the ball falls straight to Yapi at the top of the penalty area in tons of space. Somehow, his shot is blocked by a sliding Peter Ravai, with the whole goal to shoot at. He's taken too long and put in a poor effort that needed some elevation. Yet another chance in space gone unpunished.
Maybe the one third grader in the crowd squeaking a recorder repeatedly is throwing them off
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) May 23, 202331st min: the combination of Michael Halliday and Darren Yapi down the right creates maybe the best opening for the U.S. so far, but Quinn Sullivan takes one too many touches, taking him too wide and allowing a defender to get a block on the shot. Once again, not clinical enough in the final third.
29th min: For all the U.S. possession in this opening half-hour, they've done very little with it. There have been no blatantly obvious chances, and the few good moments they've created — mostly individually — have been met with poor finishes.
Referee has a discussion with Fiji midfielder Abdullah Aiyas after he commits a foul, but no yellow card is shown, which angers the U.S. coaching staff a bit.
US U-20s playing with their food right now. The patterns are mostly working but it's not just the finishes that are well below grade, it's many of the final passes, too. Still 0-0 vs. heavy underdogs after 34 minutes
— Charles Boehm (@cboehm) May 23, 202323rd min: The referee has to chat with Jack McGlynn after he is fouled by Fiji's Mohammed Fataul, who appears to have pulled his hair a bit. It comes after a good bit of play where McGlynn recovered from being nutmegged to make a good tackle and win possession back.
20th min: Chance, USA! It's another two opportunities that go begging for the U.S. Quinn Sullivan is hacked by Thomas Dunn, giving the U.S. a free-kick from about 28 yards out. It's Jack McGlynn to take, and he produces a decent effort that forces Aydin Mustahib to another save just down to his right.
Then recycling possession, Sullivan again creates a chance for himself, but puts it just wide left of the woodwork on a cutback from Owen Wolff. He could have potentially let that run another foot to Cade Cowell in acres of space, but took it himself.
WHAT A SHOT ???? @JackMcGlynn7 x @USYNT pic.twitter.com/rdKxNiFzXR
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 23, 202317th min: Chance, USA! Save, Aydin Mustahib! Cade Cowell again gets into a dangerous area, in a similar spot from where Quinn Sullivan blazed a chance over minutes earlier, but he hits it straight at the Fiji goalkeeper. It's a poor finish from a dangerous position, where a better attempt could have found the opener.
Slow start for the U.S. U-20 team. The finishing is not there in the first 18 minutes. Fiji has no possession but they're defending desperately. The U.S. has missed big chances - Yapi with the best.
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) May 23, 202315th min: Quinn Sullivan and Cade Cowell both rip shots from good attacking areas over the crossbar, unable to hit the target with decent opportunities. Sullivan's was well worked down the right, brightly creating space for himself at the right post, while Cowell's opportunity came off a good attacking third turnover forced by captain Dan Edelman. The U.S. will not want to let too many of those chances go begging.
Cade Cowell just skied an opportunity and I think we can blame the sun
— Meg Swanick (@Meg_Swanick) May 23, 2023???? @SJEarthquakes's Cade Cowell applying the pressure for @USYNT U-20s ???????? pic.twitter.com/clIk54YYZq
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 23, 202313th min: Brenden Craig gets frustrated with an inability to penetrate the Fiji low block and shoots from 40 yards out, but as one might expect, it goes miles over the bar. Not what head coach Mikey Varas will want, as he will expect a little more patience, especially this early.
10th min: Chance, USA! Darren Yapi connects on the end of a looped cross at the far post, but his shot flashes across the face of goal and rolls wide. The flag was up, meaning it wouldn't have counted had it gone in.
The U.S. has held almost all the possession through the opening 10 minutes, with Fiji unable to get out of their own half. When they do venture over the mid-line via the long ball, it has resulted in a Fiji foul to turn over possession. Still, the U.S. have been very patient and that's the first real opportunity.
???????? @USYNT U-20s Darren Yapi with the early attempt that ended being ruled offside pic.twitter.com/UHT0vA4bQz
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 23, 20235th min: It appears the U.S. is setup in a more traditional 4-3-3 after starting a three-back system in the opener against Ecuador. Michael Halladay is at right-back, supporting Quinn Sullivan on the wing. Owen Wolff has dropped into midfield, with Dan Edelman and Jack McGlynn.
1st min: The U.S. is straight into the attack with a pair of corners, and the Fiji goalkeeper Aydin Mustahib is required to come off his line to reach a delivery just moments before Darren Yapi could reach a recycled delivery from the right.
Gaery Kubu is injured in the aftermath, and requires treatment, forcing Fiji to play with 10 men while he is patched up on the sideline.
Kickoff: The game is under way in San Juan, Argentina! Four changes for the U.S. and five for Fiji, with both sides rotating the teams heavily. This is expected to be a very one-sided affair, but that's why they play the games.
One Nation, One Team ???????? pic.twitter.com/iN7GBCuVAB
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 23, 2023 USA vs Fiji: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more10 mins to kickoff: U.S. wide man Jonathan Gomez says the U.S. is "just the first step" after beating Ecuador in the opening group stage game. They'll have to back that up today!
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 21, 202335 mins to kickoff: While the United States should absolutely beat this Fiji side, and handily, they won't want to take this match for granted. In the 2015 U-20 World Cup, Fiji upset Honduras 3-0, wrecking Honduras's chances at reaching the knockout stage after they won their first match. That Honduras side features a number of current international players, such as Kevin Alvarez, Bryan Rochez, Alberth Elis, Deybi Flores, and Marcelo Pereira, among others.
47 mins to kickoff: For Fiji, they've made a host of changes as well, after falling 4-0 to Slovakia — five changes, in fact. One man slotted into the lineup is Peter Ravai, a 20-year-old born in Scotland and eligible to play for the Scottish national team should he choose, but to this point he's been with the Fiji youth setup. He currently plays for Fiji club Rewa, but did spend a year in the youth setup of German side Hamburg, as well as English fifth-tier club Maidstone United.
— Coupe du Monde ???? (@fifaworldcup_fr) May 23, 202355 mins to kickoff: Lineups are in. The United States make a number of changes. Cade Cowell is back into the lineup, having served his suspension. However, both wingers Owen Wolff and Quinn Sullivan remain, so it will be interesting to see how they are formulated. More than likely, with Caleb Wiley and Jonathan Gomez dropping out, one of those three will play wing-back.
Also, captain Dan Edelman returns to the midfield and Darren Yapi takes over at striker, while LA Galaxy defender Marcus Ferkranus and Orlando City youngster Michael Halliday are slotted into center-back in place of Justin Che and Josh Wynder.
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 23, 20231 hr 5 mins to kickoff: With lineups imminent, the kids are getting ready to go. They're playing their group stage games in Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario in San Juan, Argentina. The city is on the western side of Argentina near the border, about 500 km from Santiago, Chile (although the drive is almost twice as far, as you need to go north to get through the Andes).
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 23, 20231 hr 36 mins to kickoff: The United States can secure a spot in the knockout stage with a victory today, but they'll want to do more than that. Knowing Slovakia defeated Fiji by four goals, the U.S. will want to best that, because if they draw with Slovakia in the final match of the group stage, goal differential will determine the group winner.
The group winner will draw a third-place finisher in the Round of 16, while the runner-up will face the runner-up from Group F — which, theoretically, could be France, after Les Bleus lost their opening match.
2 hrs to kickoff: The winner on Saturday was scored by wide man Jonathan Gomez, who has some experience with the senior national team and will look to build towards a more regular role at that level. He had a fascinating — if not a little awkward — discussion with USMNT veteran DeAndre Yedlin on the new CBS Sports show Golazo, who gave the youngster some advice on advancing his career.
From one full-back to another, @yedlinny talks to the @USYNT's game-winning hero Jonathan Gomez whose injury-time goal vs. Ecuador secured an opening game win at the U-20 World Cup. ???? pic.twitter.com/zicho7tNhd
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 22, 2023 USA vs Fiji lineups, team newsElectric winger Cade Cowell, who scored a brace in the team's warmup friendly against Senegal last week, was suspended for the match against Ecuador after his part in an on-pitch fight in the U-20 CONCACAF Championships, but he returns vs. Fiji.
The USA are still missing Paxten Aaronson who was not released for duty by his club Eintracht Frankfurt, and the same goes for Jalen Neal of the struggling LA Galaxy. Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split) will not be with the team for the group stage, only joining up should the team advance to the knockout rounds due to club obligations. It was thought Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg) would join then as well, but he is on the bench today.
USA starting lineup (4-3-3): Slonina (GK) — Halliday, Ferkranus, Craig, Gomez — McGlynn, Edelman, Wolff — Sullivan, Yapi, Cowell.
USA subs (10): Borto (GK), Carrera (GK), Wiley, Luna, Wynder, Che, Paredes, Tsakiris, Vargas, Pukstas.
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 21, 2023MORE: USA U-20 World Cup roster, list of players in Argentina
Only one player on the Fiji roster plays their club ball outside of the Oceania region, with midfielder Josh Laqeretabua in the Charlton Athletic youth side. Everyone else on the squad plays in either Fiji, New Zealand, or Australia.
Midfielder Peter Ravai is also eligible to represent Scotland internationally, having been born in the European country, but he has yet to be called up. Midfielder Nabil Begg has two caps for the senior Fiji national team already at age 19.
Fiji starting lineup (4-5-1): Mustahib (GK) — Fataul, Ravai, Vasconcellos, Kubu — Saqiri, Khan, Dunn, Aiyas, Begg — Ali.
Fiji subs (10): Vuakaca (GK), Sevanaia (GK), Rabuka, Hussain, Matau, Razool, Laqeretabua, Dekedeke, Ratu, Navoce.
How to watch USA vs Fiji Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2023 Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT TV channel: FS2, Universo Streaming: Fubo, Fox Sports GO, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Universo NOW, FIFA+The match will be televised on FS2 (English) and Universo (Spanish), with both broadcasts available to stream on Fubo.
The English-language rights for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the United States are held by Fox, with this match set to be televised on FS2. All matches from this competition can also be streamed on Fox's subscription-based platform Fox Sports GO.
A Spanish-language broadcast is available on Universo, with streaming available via their platforms Telemundo Deportes En Vivo and Universo NOW.
