USA U-17s Beat Ghana on Akinola's Second-Half Strike at World Cup
The U.S. Under-17 men's national team didn't have the easiest time handling Ghana at the World Cup on Monday, but after absorbing plenty of pressure without breaking, it found its own breakthrough to secure a huge three points.
Ayo Akinola, a Toronto FC product, came off the bench and scored the game-winning goal in the 75th minute, slotting home from the right channel after being set up by Atlanta United's Chris Goslin to make it two wins in two games in India.
D.C. United's Chris Durkin won the ball in the midfield and found Goslin, who then supplied Akinola with the final ball before he finished for his first goal of the competition.
The USA had beaten India in the opener on Friday, with Durkin, Josh Sargent and Andrew Carleton scoring the goals in the 3-0 rout.
The USA finishes group play against Colombia on Oct. 12. With six points from two games, the Americans are poised to go through to the knockout stage, but Colombia's win over India has required the USA to go down to its group finale to secure a top-two finish. Regardless, the six points should be plenty for the Americans to go through as a third-place finisher, with the top four from the six groups moving on.
