The United States won Group F at the World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates with a 2-0 win over South Korea Friday.
The Americans face African power Ivory Coast, 2-1, Monday in Dubai.
Eddie Johnson converted to penalty kicks early in the first half to give the Americans the victory. The game marked the first time 14-year-old Freddy Adu started for the United States in the under-20 world championships.
The U.S. won the group with six groups, ahead of Paraguay, a 2-0 winner over Germany in the opening Group F game. The Americans and Koreans went into the nightcap knowing they could both afford to lose by two goals and still advance.
Ivory Coast, second in Group E will present a big challenge. The Baby Elephants physically dominated Mexico, 2-1, in their opening game and advanced with ties with Ireland and Saudi Arabia.
USA-South Korea Summary:
Dec. 5 in Abu Dhabi
USA 2 South Korea 0. Goals: E. Johnson 13, pen., 24 pen.
USA — Cronin, Moor, Marshall, Cochrane, Whitbread, Grabavoy, Mapp (Harvey, 84), Convey, Clark, Adu (Dempsey, 70), E.Johnson (Cameron, 80).
South Korea — Kim Young Kwang, Kim Chi Woo, Kim Chi Gon, Kim Jin Kyu, Lee Jong Min, Lee Ho, Cho (Oh, 84), Han (Namkung, 77), Lim, Kim Dong Hun, Yeo.
Referee: Mathew Breeze (Australia).
Att.: 8,000.