CELAYA, Mexico – The 2024 Concacaf Men's U-20 Championship kicked off on Friday with a doubleheader at the Miguel Aleman Valdez Stadium in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Costa Rica and Cuba shared the spoils by opening the tournament with a draw. The United States took first place in Group A with a 9-nil win against Jamaica.
Costa Rica vs. Cuba
Costa Rica drew 1-1 with Cuba to start the proceedings in Group A.
Samuel Rodriguez opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 8' to place Cuba in the lead.
Leonardo Alfaro was denied by the crossbar in the 23’ as Costa Rica pushed for the equalizer.
Yurdy Hodelin blocked a penalty attempt from Costa Rica forward Andy Rojas in the 30’ to keep Cuba in front.
Esteban Cruz tied the match in the 52' with a header in the box, connecting on a long cross from Dylan Masis.
Costa Rica goalkeeper Berny Rojas made two saves in the 54’ to deny Aniel Casanova and Cristian Mendoza.
Andy Rojas had a last look for Costa Rica in the 90'+3 as both nations split the points.
USA begin at top of Group A
Defending champions United States rose to the top of Group A with a 9-nil win over Jamaica.
David Vazquez opened the scoring in the 2' with a right shot inside the box.
Vazquez extended the lead for the U.S. in the 3' with a left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty arc.
Pedro Soma struck with a left-footed strike of his own in the 16' to extend the U.S. lead off a corner kick.
Soma completed his brace in the 20' with another left-footed hit inside the box.
Cruz Medina penned his name in the scoresheet in the 39' to give the USA a five-goal lead.
Marcos Zambrano struck in the 54' as the U.S. continued their offensive efficiency into the second half.
Ruben Ramos scored in the 67' to make it seven for the three-time champions.
Nimfasha Berchimas opened his account in the 77' from short distance.
Nikolas Tsakiris added one more goal for the U.S. in the 90'+1 to close the victory.
Group A action resumes on Monday with Costa Rica and Jamaica as the first half of the doubleheader. Cuba will face the United States in the second match at the Miguel Aleman Valdez Stadium in Celaya.
Group B kicks off Saturday in Irapuato
The 2024 Concacaf Men's U-20 Championship continues with the opening encounters in Group B on Saturday at the Sergio Leon Chavez Stadium in Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
The Dominican Republic and El Salvador will begin the day’s activities. Honduras and Canada will face off to close the night.
Dominican Republic vs. El Salvador
Runners-up in the previous edition, as well as qualifying for the first time to the Olympic Games, the Dominican Republic seeks to add another chapter to the history of its youth football program. The all-time scorer for the Dominican Republic in the CMU20 is Erick Japa with six goals.
Nicolas Cruz scored two goals in the group stage of the qualifiers and will be one name to watch in attack. Yordy Alvarez returns after playing four matches in the 2022 edition, and was part of the squad that competed in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina.
El Salvador will participate in the CMU20 for the 19th time, highlighted by the title won in
Guatemala in 1964 and third places in 1984 and 2013. The all-time scorer for El Salvador in the CMU20 is Juan Barahona with three goals.
Daniel Franco helped El Salvador qualify by contributing three clean sheets in the group stage of the qualifiers, making 13 saves and conceding only two goals. Wilber Diaz scored three goals in the qualifiers, all coming in the second half, and will be another player to keep an eye on.
The only match in the series between the two teams in the CMU20C was in the Round of 16, with a 5-4 win for the Dominican Republic on June 26, 2022 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Israel Boatwright (6’), Anyelo Gómez (13’), Ángel Montes de Oca (47’, 60’), and
Edison Azcona (78’) scored for the Dominican Republic while the El Salvador goals were made by Mayer Gil (9’, 37’), Ronald Arévalo (43’), and Jonathan Esquivel (57’).
Honduras vs. Canada
Honduras and Canada will face each other for the sixth time in the group stage of the
CMU20C, with five wins for the Central American side. The last time they faced each other was in the group stage in 2017, a 1-0 victory for the Catrachos, with a goal by Jorge Álvarez (77’).
A constant participant in the CMU20, Honduras returns to the tournament's final phase for a 26th time since 1962. The nation won the tournament twice in 1982 and 1994. The all-time scorer for Honduras in the CMU20 is Josue Villafranca with seven goals.
Roberto Osorto, at 18 years old, has 30 appearances in the Honduras first division with
Real España. He participated in the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup, the 2023
Concacaf Champions Cup and scored two goals in the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship. Jonathan Bueso played five matches in the Clausura 2024 with CD Marathon and five matches in the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship.
Canada will seek to end an 18-year absence from the FIFA U-20 Men's World Cup and win a third CMU20 title after finishing as champions in 1986 and 1996. One of the bright spot of Canada’s qualification was Sergei Kozlovskiy who at just 15 years old became one of the program’s youngest scorers.
Myles Morgan was Canada's top scorer in the qualifiers with four goals, two of which were
Headers. Santiago Lopez scored three goals, one off a free kick, and had the most shots by a Canadian player (12) in the qualifiers.
