KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent and the Grenadines—Looking to punch their ticket to the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup by winning the group, the United States U17 MNT took on the Dominican Republic in a battle of the two unbeatens of Group E, and though it got quite dicey near the end, the Stars and Stripes pulled it off to get a return trip to Qatar next fall. Needing at least a draw to win the group, the United States just managed it with a 1-1 result. After high-scoring games against the other teams in the group, this match proved to be a nail-biter.
The starting lineup saw five changes from Saturday. Malik Jakupovic was once again in the starting lineup after his five-goal performance in the previous match, and seven total for the tournament at that point. James Donaldson returned to goal after the Union’s Matthew White was the keeper against St. Kitts and Nevis. Rounding out Alex Aldaz’s squad was Eddie Chadwick, Prince Forfor, Liam Vejrostek, Myles Gardner, Kaedren Spivey, Vicente Garcia, Will Ostrander, Astin Mbaye, and Peter Molinari.
The USA nearly got on the board in the first minute, but Prince Forfor shot just wide. After dominating possession early, the DR had their first bit of pressure for the USA in the 7th minute after a bit of a defensive lapse, but the chance was thwarted. It was far less of a one-sided game as the other two as the DR started to find some footing in the early going. They showed a good ability to counter as the match progressed.
Donaldson had to make a save in 15th minute when DR’s Almonte blasted on net. Gardner shortly after got booked for a foul in the 16th minute, setting up a set piece for the DR that ended as an easy scoop up for Donaldson. As the first half went on, there was more back and forth, with the USA getting stymied by the DR’s low block. Mbaye came up with a huge block in the 28th minute when Almonte went for a shot.
In the 30th minute, Jakupovic got to take a free kick , which he sent over the wall but out wide. The DR would get their own dangerous chance a few minutes later, but Florentino sailed it over the wall and wide of the goal.
As the first half was waning, the USA finally found their breakthrough as Ostrander crossed the ball to Jakupovic, who headed the ball into the net in the 41st minute for the first goal conceded in the tournament by the DR, and his eighth of the tournament. They would not enjoy the lead for long as their opponent answered just three minutes later with a goal of their own by Adrian Garcia. Jakupovic nearly took the lead back in stoppage time, but his attempt just missed. Ostrander had a shot go just wide as well.
In the 62nd minute, the United States was very lucky not to have a penalty kick against them as a foul occurred just outside the box, and was not ruled a DOGSO. Mbaye, however was shown a yellow, which would soon come back to haunt him.
With the USA clinging to the 1-1 scoreline, Mbaye was shown a second yellow in the 78th minute after another foul, leading to an ejection, leaving the USA to finish down a man in an already tight match. With five minutes of stoppage time, the DR was bringing pressure, but the defense stood tall and they managed to hang on and preserve the draw, thus winning the group by virtue of the better goal differential. The Stars and Stripes got the job done and will return to Qatar next fall.
Main article photo courtesy of US Soccer.
The One Team We Agree On 
Leave a comment