U.S. Under-20 MNT Beats Cuba 4-0

by Travis Clark

July 23, 2024

Players featured in this article:

	Nimfasha Berchimas \| 2026 F \| Charlotte FC
	Zavier Gozo \| 2025 F \| RSL
	Stuart Hawkins \| 2025 D \| Seattle Sounders

The United States Under-20 Men's National Team won a second straight group game at the Concacaf Championship, beating Cuba 4-0 on Monday night.

Head coach Michael Nsien made nine changes to the team that beat Jamaica 9-0 in the opener on Friday night, opting to fully rotate the team. Four different players stepped up to score for the USA, which officially clinched a spot in the quarterfinal round.

After the U20s survived an early first-half scare, with Cuba heading a corner kick off Julian Eyestone's crossbar, Ethan Kohler opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Kohler was credited with the goal after a beautiful free kick from Niko Tsakiris into the box appeared to glance off the defender's attempt, eluding the Cuban back line and goalkeeper.

Just over 10 minutes later, Zavier Gozo blasted in a second goal. Taha Habroune played the RSL Academy forward into space, and he hammered home a shot at the goalkeeper's near post.

With a 2-0 halftime lead secured, the U.S. attack wasn't quite as productive as the opener. Habroune extended the lead in the 58th minute, when a Sergio Oregel was blocked by the ball. The Crew SC midfielder had continued his run, comfortably slotting in another goal. Oregel was involved in the final goal, as he served in a beautiful cross the Marcos Zambrano glanced in to round out the scoring.

Group play wraps up on Thursday against Costa Rica.

U.S. Lineup: Julian Eyestone; Luca Bambino, Nolan Norris (Noah Cobb), Stuart Hawkins, Ethan Kohler (Aiden Harangi); Taha Habroune, Sergio Oregel, Nikolas Tsakiris (Cruz Medina), Nimfasha Berchimas, Zavier Gozo (David Vazquez); Keyrol Figueroa (Marcos Zambrano)