3915_isi-williamsrichie_usmntu17jd121113065 John Dorton/isiphotos.com
U-17 World Cup Qualifying

Late Strike Forces U-17s to Delay World Cup Plans

Richie Williams' under-17 U.S. men's national team were minutes away from punching its ticket to the 2015 World Cup in Chile, but a late equalizer will force the team to continue in its quest.
BY Brian Sciaretta Posted
March 09, 2015
1:43 PM
THE UNITED STATES U-17 NATIONAL TEAM was two minutes from securing a berth in this summer’s World Cup in Chile but conceded a late equalizer to tournament hosts Honduras and must now earn a result against Jamaica on Wednesday to clinch a spot.

Two years ago Honduras eliminated the U.S. U-17 team from the World Cup during qualifying, and last night proved it was still a thorn in the team's side. Despite the disappointing result in San Pedro Sula, the Yanks remain in the driver’s seat.

“We’re happy with a draw,” U.S. coach Richie Williams said. “It still keeps us in first place in the group, and we move forward. Like we said from the beginning, it’s one game at a time. We’ll play a very good Jamaica team on Wednesday, hopefully get a positive result and move on.”

The United States competed without its main playmaker, Christian Pulisic, who suffered a knock to his left knee in the first half of Thursday’s 4-1 win over Guatemala. Pulisic was listed as an option off the bench but Williams decided not to use him. Fulham’s Luca de la Torre took Pulisic’s place in the No. 10 role.

The game began poorly for the United States as Honduras took the lead in the 16th minute when Victor Matamoros blasted a beautiful shot from the right side of the box that beat U.S. goalkeeper Will Pulisiic.

Despite falling behind and a boisterous home crowd, the U.S. team eventually began to assert itself. In the 23rd minute the Yanks drew level when winger Josh Perez cut in from the left side and fired a low cross that found de la Torre just in front of the goal. The Fulham product hit a nifty backheel chip over Honduran keeper Michael Perello to even the score at 1-1.

In the 32nd minute, Perez gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead when Haji Wright delivered a harmless-looking ball into the box that the Honduran defense couldn't manage to clear. The ball rolled to an unguarded Perez who fired a blistering shot into the top of the goal. Perez, nephew of former U.S. national team great Hugo Perez, now has four goals in the tournament.

Though the U.S. went into intermission with all of the momentum, Honduras began to assert itself after the break. And after de la Torre was substituted out of the game in the 67th minute, it was one-way traffic toward the U.S. goal. Overrun in the midfield, the Americans began to bunker and it seemed like only a matter of time before Honduras scored the equalizer.

Sure enough, Honduras' David Sanchez shouldered a long pass past Pulisic in the 88th minute, giving the home team a deserved draw and forcing the visitors to prepare for Jamaica with a greater sense of urgency. Here are some thoughts on the game.

Yanks firmly in control

The United States is two points ahead of second place Honduras entering the final match day. The Americans will take on Jamaica while Honduras will host Guatemala. The U.S. team has several ways to qualify for the 2015 U-17 World Cup:

1) A win over Jamaica

2) A Honduras loss or draw to Guatemala

3) A draw vs. Jamaica provided Honduras does not make up a -6 goal differential against Guatemala

4) Winning in the playoff round if the U.S. loses to Jamaica and Honduras defeats Guatemala. Potential opponents in the playoffs include Panama, Costa Rica, Canada, or even Mexico.

In other words, Williams' team is looking very good at the moment—although Jamaica is an extremely athletic squad and the U.S. struggled with Trinidad & Tobago’s size and speed.

De la Torre can run the midfield

Without Pulisic, de la Torre filled in at the playmaking roll and did very well. His equalizing goal was crafty but he also was there to consistently set up his teammates. With all the attention on the team surrounding Pulisic, de la Torre looks very poised to run a high-caliber team at U-17 level.

If de la Torre and Pulisic are able to play well together, the chances for this team to succeed at the World Cup in Chile are strong.

CONCACAF Road Woes

When you think about how difficult it is to win on the road against the top teams in CONCACAF, the U.S. U-17s should be happy with Sunday's result despite allowing the late equalizer. In 2011, the U.S. U-20s were eliminated from World Cup qualifying when it lost to Guatemala in Guatemala. To this day, the senior U.S. team still struggles on the road in CONCACAF—especially in Central America.

For young teenage players who are accustomed to playing in front of a few hundred people—on a good day—the task is made even harder. Honduras drew a considerable, lively crowd to the game and it was an adjustment for the U.S. team.

"I haven’t played in front of a crowd like that,” U.S. defender John Nelson said. “It was probably the loudest crowd I’ve heard in my life, the toughest crowd. We didn’t let it get to us, we just stayed focused. I don’t think it affected us.”

Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.

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