U.S. U-20s beat Mexico in key qualifier, near 2017 World Cup berth

Erik Palmer-Brown's first-half goal was all the U.S. needed on a big step to the 2017 U-20 World Cup.

Erik Palmer-Brown scored on a 6-yard header off Brooks Lennon's corner kick in the 29th minute to lift the United States to a 1-0 victory over Mexico on Monday in the second round of qualifying for the Under-20 World Cup at Tibas, Costa Rica.

Jonathan Klinsmann, son of former U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann, got the shutout.

United States 1 - 0 Mexico Highlights | @ussoccer @miseleccionmx #CU20CRC pic.twitter.com/26Ekc82boi

— Concacaf (@Concacaf) February 28, 2017

The United States completes the second round on Friday against El Salvador, which plays Mexico on Wednesday. The top two teams in each second-round group of the North and Central American and Caribbean region qualify for the Under-20 World Cup, to be played in South Korea from May 20 to June 11.