CARIACICA, Brazil – The United States were downed by Senegal 4-1 on Sunday to open their 2019 FIFA Under-17 World Cup campaign in Group D.
Things started brightly for the U.S. at the Estadio Kleber Andrade in Cariacica, as Gianluca Busio, who scored five goals at the 2019 Concacaf Under-17 Championship and was named to the tournament’s Best XI, opened the scoring by thumping in a header in the 3’.
Senegal looked to respond and they grabbed the momentum right before halftime with a goal in the 45+3’ when Souleymane Faye pounced on a loose ball and scored to make it 1-1.
The U.S. tried to shift things back in their favor, but the second half would belong to Senegal.
Aliou Badara Balde gave Senegal a 2-1 lead in the 72’ when he swooped in to score off a blocked shot.
Four minutes later in the 76’ Amete Saloum Faye extended the lead to 3-1 by cleaning up a cross that made its way through the U.S. defense.
Pape Matar Sarr then rounded out the 4-1 scoreline in the 88’ with a strong right-footed free kick into the top right corner of goal.
The U.S. will return to action on Wednesday against Japan.
