Team USA sinks Ecuador in stoppage time at U-20 World Cup

Jonathan Gomez’s stoppage time gave Team USA a thrilling 1-0 victory over Ecuador in the Under-20 World Cup opener in Argentina’s San Juan on Saturday.

The 19-year-old took a cross from striker Owen Wolff before firing past goalkeeper Gilmar Napa from just outside the box and into the top right corner of the net.

The final whistle came a minute later.

The other two teams in Group B, Slovakia and Fiji, played late on Saturday.

Gomez’s best shot on the hour came after an embarrassing mistake by Ecuador’s Napa. His clearance hit his defender Christian Garcia in the face. The ball fell on American striker Diego Luna, who shot wide despite the empty goal.

Ecuador goalkeeper Gilmar Napa fails to block Jonathan Gomez’s first goal shot

Jonathan Gomez, center, of the United States celebrates with teammates

Nicknamed ‘JoGo’ by teammates, Gomez’s club career began in 2020 with Louisville City of the USL before transferring to Spain’s Real Sociedad B. He made his La Liga debut against RCD Mallorca in March 2022 and has now made 41 appearances for the club.

Ecuador, the team of teenage sensation striker Kendry Paez, did not produce a single shot on target.

The first goal of the tournament came from New Zealand, for which Norman Garbett scored the only goal in the 80th minute to beat Guatemala in a Group A match. Later on Saturday, hosts Argentina faced Asian champions Uzbekistan in Santiago del Estero.

Argentina inherited Indonesia’s place in the tournament as hosts. Protests in Muslim-majority Indonesia against hosting Israel forced FIFA to make a very belated change of venue. Indonesia has no formal diplomatic relations with Israel.