The United States exited the FIFA Under-17 World Cup at the knockout stage, losing 2-1 to Italy at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, Nigeria. In the 18th-minute, Jack McInerney's penalty attempt was saved by Italy keeper Francesco Bardi. This was Bardi's first game in the tournament, starting in place of injured keeper Mattia Perin. Italy opened the scoring through Giacomo Beretta in the 29th-minute, and held onto that lead into the half. Nick Palodichuk equalized for the USA in the 51st, but Pietro Iemello put Italy back in front for good five minutes later. USA defender Eriq Zavaleta was sent off in the 93rd minute.
“Today we came out and in the first half just didn’t play well," McInerney said. "We came out strong in the second half and put one on them quickly, but we couldn’t score more than one. We just weren’t playing well and we needed to come out stronger and just play soccer.”
Match: U.S. U-17 MNT vs. Italy
Date: Nov. 4, 2009
Competition: 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup; Round of 16
Venue: Ahmadu Bello Stadium; Kaduna, Nigeria
Kickoff: 4 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET)
Attendance: 11,311
Weather: 90 degrees, clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 1 1
ITA 1 1 2
ITA – Giacomo Beretta (Pietro Iemmello) 29th minute
USA – Nick Palodichuck (Luis Gil) 51
ITA – Pietro Iemmello (Giacomo Beretta) 56
Lineups:
USA: 1-Earl Edwards; 6-Zachary Herold (16-Juan Agudelo, 84), 2-Jared Watts (capt.), 15-Eriq Zavaleta, 3-Tyler Polak; 7-Stefan Jerome (13-Dominick Sarle, 66), 10-Luis Gil, 11-Nick Palodichuk, 5-Marlon Duran, 8-Alex Shinsky (19-Victor Chavez, 81); 9-Jack McInerney
Subs not used: 4-Perry Kitchen, 21-Keith Cardona, 12-Spencer Richey, 14-Carlos Martinez, 17-William Packwood, 18-Andrew Craven, 20-Boyd Okwuonu
Head Coach: Wilmer Cabrera
ITA: 12-Francesco Bardi; 5-Simone Sini, 3-Federico Mannini, 15-Michele Camporese, 2-Felice Natalino; 19-Marco Fossati, 20-Federico Carraro (13-Simone Benedetti, 83), 6-Lorenzo Crisetig (16-Leonardo Bianchi, 60), 8-Alessandro de Vitis; 18-Pietro Iemmello (7-Alessandro Scialpi, 66), 9-Giacomo Beretta
Subs not used: 4-Vincenzo Camilleri, 10-Stephan el Shaarawy, 11-Simone dell Agnello, 14-Andrea Bagnai, 21-Giacomo Venturi
Head coach: Pasquale Salerno
Stats Summary: USA / ITA
Shots: 12/11
Shots on Goal: 6/3
Saves: 1/5
Corner Kicks: 7/5
Fouls: 23 / 14
Offside: 2 / 5
Misconduct Summary:
ITA – Federico Mannini (caution) 6th minute
ITA – Alessandro de Vitis (caution) 68
USA – Alex Shinsky (caution) 74
USA – Eriq Zavaleta (sent off) 90+3
USA – Jack McInterny (caution) 90+4
Officials:
Referee: Carlos Amarilla (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Emigdio Ruiz (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Nicolas Yegros (PAR)
Fourth Official: Pablo Pozo (CHI)
