U17 MNT takes historic 4-3 win over Mexico

U17 MNT takes historic 4-3 win over Mexico
by Will Parchman
April 26, 2017

Mexico’s 25-match unbeaten streak at this tournament? Gone. More than three decades without a win over Mexico at this tournament? That’s gone too. All that’s left in its wake is a historically impressive 4-3 win for the U.S. U17s over one of the world’s preeminent U17 programs.

Under a tropical Panamanian canopy of rain and claps of thunder, the U.S. U17 Men’s National Team carved open a previously unbeatable Mexico and logged a 4-3 win at the U17 CONCACAF Championship. The win was the second in as many games for the Americans, who guaranteed themselves a place in the final phase of 2017 World Cup qualification as well as the group.

Josh Sargent scored twice and assisted on another, and the U.S. pulled away from Mexico with two goals in the second half to cement the deal. Mexico scored once in the 91st minute to make it a match, but that was as close as they’d get.

READ: Sargent moves to No. 1 in 2018 class | Sargent scouting report

Mexico piled up win after win this cycle, including one over the U.S. Last summer, Mexico put six past a similar lineup in Mexico City in a raucous 6-3 match. That was part of another hugely successful U17 cycle for Mexico, which entered this tournament as two-time World Cup champs, winners of the last two U17 CONCACAF tourneys and the undisputed favorites to take a third.

The U.S. could conceivably have to play Mexico again to decide the title. But at least for now, the tourney favorite has shifted.

Here are three things we learned from a historic evening in Panama.

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