The United States reached the semifinals of the U-17 World Cup with a 3-2 win over Mexico in a quarterfinal clash in Auckland, New Zealand. The USA plays the winner of the Australia-Qatar quarterfinal. Mexico opened the scoring in the third minute through a close-range blast from Hector Vallejo after a low cross found its way through the U.S. defense. The USA equalized in the 38th minute off a spectacular, 24-yard volley from DaMarcus Beasley. The go-ahead goal came in the 43rd minute on a Jordan Cila breakaway. Taking advantage of a Mexican defender’s inability to head away a high bouncing through ball, Cila moved in on keeper Adolfo Cabrera, juked the keeper, and slotted home into an open net. In the 48th minute, Oguchi Onyewu did well to shed his marker in the corner before hitting a perfect cross to Kyle Beckerman, whose 6-yard header made it 3-1. Mexico made it 3-2 in the 70th minute with a Yered Yanez header from inside the goal area following a corner kick. Both teams had chances in the final minutes but the USA held on for the 3-2 win. The semifinal appearance is the USA’s first in the U-17 World Cup. It will play Nov. 23, 10 pm ET (U.S. time).