Goals from Lennon, Glad lift US U-20s over New Zealand for World Cup quarterfinal berth

Real Salt Lake’s men led the way as the United States Under-20 wasted no time ensuring their place in the U-20 World Cup quarterfinals, defeating New Zealand 6-0.

Glad finished the first goal for the U.S. from a Brooks Lennon corner with a fine strike across the goal — but the goal was awarded to the U.S. standout Josh Sargent, whose slight and accidental deflection helped put the ball past the New Zealand goalkeeper.

Jeremy Ebobisse managed to put the U.S. ahead 2-0 in the 65th minute with a stupendous strike from the top of the box.

On the next attacking play, Brooks Lennon lifted the U.S. to a three-goal lead with a classic winger’s goal — a perfect finish at the far post after a well-timed run.

The injustice Justen Glad suffered didn’t last long, as he scored a 76th minute goal from a corner kick to even further lengthen the American lead.

Auston Trusty finished off the scoring for the Americans with a screaming strike from 15 yards out on a Sebastian Saucedo corner.

The final goal came in stoppage time, with Lagos Kunga dancing into the box before a smart finish past New Zealand’s goalkeeper with the match truly out of contention.

Three from Real Salt Lake started: Glad, Lennon and Danilo Acosta. All three had fine performances. With the match out of contention, Danilo Acosta was substituted in the 76th minute for Auston Trusty, and Brooks Lennon was substituted in the 80th for Sebastian Saucedo. Until that point, Acosta had played every minute of every match.

The U.S. will now face Venezuela on Sunday in a quarterfinal. That match should be imminently watchable for Real Salt Lake fans, given the match starts at 12 a.m. on a weekend.