Photos courtesy of PAHF

TORONTO, Canada - May 25, 2016 - The U.S. U-21 Men's National Team found form when it counted as they recorded a fantastic come-from-behind victory against Mexico in the Junior Men's Pan American Championship quarterfinals to book themselves a place in the semifinals.

The game got off to a shaky start as a Team USA defensive turnover presented Mexico with an opportunity inside the second minute – and they duly put it past USA's goalkeeper Nate O’Lari (Orange, Mass.) with a sharp strike from the top of the circle.

The U-21 USMNT regrouped and had chances in the circle but didn’t make the Mexico goalkeeper work. Some excellent defensive penalty corner running by Mexico also prevented Team USA from finding the back of the goal. Mexico continued to push, looking for a second goal, and their pressure eventually paid off. In the 22nd minute, a Mexico forward snuck in front of the USA defense at the back post to deflect home their second goal to make the score USA 0, MEX 2. 

The young Team USA dug deep to respond to the two goal deficit - and respond they did. Pushing forward, Javieer Singh (Hayward, Calif.), Casey Walker (Ventura, Calif.) and Ethan LaSala (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) provided solid outlet options as Doug Allison (Westlake Village, Calif.) and Jaspreet Gill (Placentia, Calif.) looked to create space from the midfield. In the 33rd minute, USA central midfielder George McGuigan (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) struck to get Team USA back in the game. McGuigan took a short pass from a long corner, turned his defender and fired a shot into the bottom corner. This goal just before halftime gave Team USA momentum as they went into the halftime down, USA 1, MEX 2.

The second half would be the sternest test for the U-21 USMNT in the tournament. Knowing that they had to come away with a win, Team USA had to find a goal without losing shape and structure. Defensively, USA shined as Keeling Pilaro (Southhampton, N.Y.) constantly soaked up pressure and transitioned forward with the ball. Together with his teammates, Pilaro knew the game plan and stuck to it. Team USA knew that if they kept working hard and together, it would pay dividends. And it did.

A penalty corner with just five minutes to go came to Ruben van Dam (Valkenswaard, The Netherlands) and he swept the ball to McGuigan who deflected home the equalizer and his second goal of the game. This goal came while Team USA had a field player waiting on the sideline to sub-out the goalkeeper.

In the end, USA's goalkeeper O’Lari stayed in his net and had a prime view in the 67th minute to watch, Sean Cicchi (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) put in the go-ahead goal on a penalty corner drag-flick to make the score USA 3, MEX 2. With three minutes left in the match, Team USA controlled the momentum and secured the victory.

“I’m obviously delighted to make the semifinals but I’m even happier with how we executed the game plan," said Rutger Wiese, U-21 USMNT Head Coach, proudly of his team. "We never stopped working and because of that we knew chances would appear. Mexico gave us a fantastic game but I think we deserved the result in the end.”

The U.S. U-21 Men's National Team advances to the semifinals of the Junior Men's Pan Am Championships and will play Argentina on Friday, May 27 at 3:00 p.m. EST. Stream the game live here by clicking here. 

Goalscoring