BY SCOTT FRENCH in Mendoza, Argentina A disappointing effort in its opening match of the World Youth Championship leaves Wolfgang Suhnholz’s U.S. under-20 team needing nothing less than a victory Wednesday afternoon when it takes on Chile in the second of its three first-phase matches at Malvinas Argentinas. The Americans dug themselves a hole with a poor performance in a 1-0 loss to China in Sunday’s Group C opener and likely need at least one win and one tie in its final two first-round games, against Chile and Ukraine, to earn one of 16 spots in the second round. Their best chance for victory, based on Sunday’s results, will be against the Chileans, who were outclassed by Ukraine, 4-2, and also need a victory Wednesday to get on track to advance. The Yanks, who arrived in Argentina with great expectations, struggled to connect with each other against the quick and technically gifted Chinese, who square off with Ukraine in Wednesday’s opener in Mendoza. Qu Bo — one of four full national-teamers in China’s lineup — scored in the 50th minute, but the Yanks were unable to find an equalizer despite dominating possession between the boxes the final half-hour. Suhnholz has kept his squad upbeat heading into the clash with Chile, which can count on strong support in the venue nearest the Chilean border, but his charges are well aware that they cannot falter this time. “Obviously, if we don’t win, we’re pretty much done,” acknowledged midfielder Landon Donovan, one of five professionals on the U.S. roster. “Maybe with three points, we can go [to the second round], but we don’t want to worry about the last game against Ukraine. Six points, we’re in. Four points, don’t know.” Four of six third-place teams will advance to the second round of the U-20 championships, and four points — with an even goal differential — likely will be required to get through. “Right now, I’m not talking about four points or five points or six points,” said Suhnholz, who plans to change alignments — from a 3-6-1 to a 4-4-2 — and make two lineup alterations. “Right now, I think we have to beat Chile. … No doubt we have to win. There’s no other way.” Left back Philip Salyer, joining Oguchi Onyewu, Alexander Yi and captain Nelson Akwari on the back line, will come on in place of defensive midfielder Brian Carroll in an effort to slow Chile’s three-forward alignment. Columbus Crew striker Edson Buddle will take over for Conor Casey at striker, with DaMarcus Beasley moving onto the forward line, albeit from a wide position. Suhnholz said the Americans’ failure to utilize its attacking speed spurred his decision to move Beasley from his usual position in midfield. “We needed a little bit more fire up top, and that’s why we’re trying Beas there,” Suhnholz said. “We hope he can give us that. Because we have excellent passers, if they are on top of game, in Bobby Convey and Landon and Kyle Martino.” The Americans’ passing game was atrocious much of Wednesday’s opener, with Donovan, Beasley and Convey — the team’s critical attacking players — performing well below their abilities. Donovan finally started to demonstrate his prowess after Qu’s goal, and the Yanks came away pleased with how they linked through midfield after falling behind. That China sat back after its goal and denied the Yanks much access to its penalty area didn’t enter their thoughts. “I felt it was pretty positive the way the team came back after the poor performance in the first half,” Suhnholz said. “I think in the first half we didn’t do so hot, but at least I saw them coming back in the second half, and I think we had more of the game in the second half. So from that point of view, I felt really positive.” It was the first time the full U.S. team had been together since the qualifying tournament in March. Donovan, Beasley and Convey had not been part of Suhnholz’s pre-tournament preparations while playing for their MLS clubs. “The thing is we naturally were relying a lot on our pros, and I think overall they didn’t feel that they had their best performance,” said Suhnholz, a former Bayern Munich player who was an assistant coach when the U.S. U-20s finished 11th two years ago in Nigeria. “They have to step it up. But not just them. We all have to step it up to win [Wednesday].” Donovan agreed with his coach’s assessment. “I think we were timid, kind of scared, wanted to sit back and not let too much happen,” he said. “They had one good break, scored, and then we got urgent and started to play. … So we’re going to press the game [against Chile] like we did the last 30 minutes [against China], and we’re going to play that way the whole way. We’re just going to go out, trying to score, and play the way we know how.” Said Convey: “We need to step up. … We can’t tie or lose — well, maybe we can tie, I don’t know. But definitely we have to win.” INJURY AND ILLNESS. Mendoza’s chilly weather had Onyewu feeling the effects of partially torn cartilage in the lateral meniscus of his left knee, an injury sustained earlier this year during the U-20s’ sojourn to Mexico. He watched Monday’s training session from the sidelines and wore a knee brace for Tuesday’s practice, but trainer Anthony Garcia said it shouldn’t impact his performance against Chile. Convey also sat out Monday’s session after he was cleated atop his foot during the China match but said he felt fine Tuesday. “I need more than a day’s rest, but that’s not going to happen,” he said. The Americans also were feeling the effects of a bug, which forced midfielder Brad Davis out of Monday’s practice and had Salyer, backup goalkeeper Doug Warren and USL Commissioner Francisco Marcos, the head of the U.S. delegation, feeling queasy Tuesday. Starting goalkeeper D.J. Countess got off with a minor bout. CHILEAN TROUBLES. Chile was still reeling from the detainment of eight players on the eve of their travels to Argentina after they were discovered in an illegal Santiago brothel. All eight could face charges when they return home, and none will share in any bonus money the squad earns in the tournament. Coach Hector Pinto did not alter his lineup because of the scandal. Chile is led by goalkeeper Johnny Herrera (U. de Chile), defenders Gino Reyes (Colo Colo) and Eduardo Lobos (Colo Colo), midfielder Jaime Valdes (Bari, Italy) and forward Mario Caceres (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal). PROBABLE U.S. LINEUP. Goalkeeper — D.J. Countess (UCLA); defenders — Oguchi Onyewu (Clemson), Alexander Yi (UCLA), Nelson Akwari (UCLA), Philip Salyer (Maryland); midfielders — Kelly Gray (Portland), Bobby Convey (D.C. United), Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes), Kyle Martino (Virginia); forwards — DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire), Edson Buddle (Columbus Crew).