The U.S. under-20 national team was left probably needing a result against host Panama Sunday at the CONCACAF U-20 Qualifying Tournament after it had to settle for a 0-0 draw with Guatemala Friday.
The USA leads Group A with four points in two games, but it will be eliminated if it loses to Panama and Guatemala beats Haiti. Panama beat Haiti, 3-2, in Friday's other game.
U.S. coach Thomas Rongen made just one change to his line-up from the teamÆs opening 4-1 victory against Haiti, replacing Tony Beltran for Quavas Kirk at right back. The U.S. defense held Guatemala to no shots on goal and just four shots total. But the USA struggled with finishing and couldnÆt put away any of their 10 shots.
The USA will be attempting to qualify for their sixth straight U-20 World Cup, which would break the previous CONCACAF record that it and Mexico (1977, Æ79, Æ81, Æ83, Æ85) currently hold. Overall, the USA has qualified for 10 of the previous 15 FIFA U-20 World Cups. The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup will take place in Canada from June 30-July 22 across six cities û Burnaby, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Victoria.
Jan. 19 in Panama City
USA 0 Guatemala 0.
USA — Seitz, Beltran, Valentin, Sturgis, Ward (Igwe, 80), Wallace, Szetela, Adu, Zizzo (Altidore, 61), Rogers, Akpan (Zimmerman, 78).
Guatemala — Reyes, Sandoval, Noriega, Howell, Vides, Priego (Leon, 66), Lopez, Ciani (Ponce, 74), Morales, Lopez (Santeliz, 58), Solorzano.