The USA won its second straight game at the Under-17 World Championship Tuesday with a 3-1 win over Italy.
The U.S. victory, coupled with North KoreaÆs 3-0 win over Ivory Coast, clinched first place and a berth in the quarterfinals.
It marked the fifth time in 11 appearances the Americans have reached the quarterfinals. The only time they won a game in the knockout phase was in 1999 when the team with Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Oguchi Onyewu and Bobby Convey finished fourth.
The U.S. goals against Italy all came in the second half from Oforie Sarkodie, Kyle Nakazawa and Ryan Soroka. Nakazawa and Soroka also both scored in the first game, a 3-2 victory over North Korea
As against North Korea, all three USA goals against Italy followed set pieces. Nakazawa fed Sarkodie with a free kick into the box for the first goal, then converted a free kick himself from 25 yards for the second. Soroka scored in stoppage time after a long free kick by Ameachi Igwe was played into the box.
North Korea dominated large parts of the opening game, but the Americans recovered to have the edge in play against Italy.
Italy came undone in the second half when it was called for five yellow cards and a straight red. Its coach, Francesco Rocca, was also ejected.
Sept. 20 in Chiclayo
USA 3 Italy 1. Goals: Sarkodie 47, Nakazawa 66, Soroka 90; Russotto 74.
USA û Rueckner, Alston, Sardokie, Besagno (Igwe, 66), Wagner, Kirk (Altidore, 71), Nakazawa, M.Farfan (Subotic, 83), Soroka, Zimmerman, Arvizu.
Italy û Alfonso, Brivio, De Silvestri, Angelucci (Scozzarella, 74), Cremonesi, Greco (Russotto, 65), DÆAttoma (Cia, 57), Palmero, Mancosu, Tiboni, Foti.
Yellow cards: USA û Arviza 58; Italy û Cremonesi 28, De Silvestri 54, Greco 56, Angelucci 67, Russotto 76, Cia 88.
Red card: Italy û Foti 60.
Referee: Mark Shield (Australia).
Att.: 15,240.