Gedion Zelalem (right) of USA vies for the ball with Joel Stevens of New Zealand during their FIFA U-20 World Cup Group A match in Auckland yesterday. (FIFA)

United States are through to the last 16 of the FIFA U20 World Cup with a game to spare after a comprehensive 4-0 win over hosts New Zealand at Auckand’s North Harbour Stadium. The margin of victory in no way flattered Tab Ramos’s impressive side, who became the first side to advance to the knockout phase thanks to a brace from Rubio Rubin either side of goals from Emerson Hyndman and Paul Arriola.
The Americans were the more accomplished side from the very start and the warning signs were there for New Zealand when Arriola forced Oli Sail into a fine save inside five minutes. From the resultant corner, the deadlock was broken, with Rubin converting from a matter of centimetres after Bradford Jamieson IV had turned a Matthew Miazga header towards goal.
The Junior All Whites looked vulnerable every time the US attacked and had Sail to thank for keeping them in contention when he pulled off a tremendous save to tip away Cameron Carter-Vickers’ curling effort. But the Kiwi keeper soon went from hero to villain. With 12 minutes until half-time, he spilled a seemingly routine through ball under pressure from Rubin, allowing Hyndman to gleefully take advantage with a low shot into the now-partially guarded net.
Sail went some way to atoning for his error two minutes into the second period when he denied the lively Rubin, but USA’s pressure was unrelenting and it was no surprise when they moved out of sight. The goal that made sure of the points was a thing of beauty too, with Paul Arriola racing through on to a fine pass from Gedion Zelalem and drilling home an inch-perfect right-foot shot off the inside of the right-hand post.
New Zealand did carve out some late chances to claim a consolation, the best of which was headed wide by captain Bill Tuiloma. But their night of misery was rounded off with six minutes left to play when Rubin capitalised on defensive confusion to sneak in between Jesse Edge and Adam Mitchell and convert from close range.
The hosts will now hope for a big win in their final Group A match against Myanmar to keep alive their hopes of advancing, while USA can enjoy their encounter with Ukraine safe in the knowledge that their place is assured.

Luchkevych inspires Ukraine
“I’m still feeling a bit heavy after the long flight. All those changes of time zone have meant I’m not in top condition.”
Out of context, this self-assessment sounds like the excuse of someone who has had a bad day at the office. But coming from Valerii Luchkevych, a man who helped transform Ukraine from a team lacking cutting edge to one operating with surgical precision, it makes you wonder what’s still in the locker. If helping orchestrate a six-goal second-half avalanche against Myanmar is him operating without firing on all cylinders, fans are in for a treat when he’s fully operational.
Following the goalless draw with New Zealand in the opening game of the FIFA U-20 World Cup it was evident that the Eastern Europeans were short of that extra spark going forward - the cog to get the watch moving in unison. The only problem that day was that wasn’t even in the same country as his teammates.
Just over two days before the tournament kicked off, Luchkevych had sat on the bench in Warsaw at the UEFA Europa League final. Sadly for the Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk winger, his side fell to a 3-2 loss against Sevilla, meaning his trip south wasn’t undertaken on a post-victory high. But aside from a bit of jet-lag, he insists there is no cup final hangover.
“Of course it was a real disappointment to see us lose in Warsaw,” he told FIFA.com. “But I knew I was flying to New Zealand so I’ve put it behind me and it won’t be on my mind while I’m out here.”
Luchkevych touched down at half-time in the match with the Junior All Whites and agreed with coach Oleksandr Petrakov that he would have to wait until half-time against Myanmar to make his World Cup bow. But his impact was almost instantaneous. After providing a helping hand for the opening goal shortly after his introduction, he truly announced himself three minutes later with a delightful chip over Myo Min Latt. When complimented on the quality of that finish, the bashful 19-year-old from Zaporizhia could only muster a smile and an embarrassed laugh.
On the field, though, his feet did plenty of talking. It took just another three minutes for him to sparkle again, bursting through the middle and firing in a shot, the rebound from which was tucked away by Kovalenko. It capped off a gobsmacking six minutes of fluid football, after a frustrating goalless two hours, and goalkeeper Bohdan Sarnavskyi took advantage of a moment of inaction to run upfield to hug Luchkevych. “He knew we had won at that point,” the midfielder explained.
The winger’s work wasn’t done though, as a delightful pirouette inside the area saw him set up Artem Bieseidin for their fifth. He should have had a brace of goals to go with his pair of assists too, but after he dancing around Min Latt his goal-bound shot was beaten off the line by the arm of Thiha Htet Aung. Nonetheless, he was simply happy to have made his mark. “It’s great to know I was able to come on and improve the team,” he said. “Goals, assists, they’re all the same to me if we finish the game on top.” (FIFA.com)