The US U-20 national team fielded five MLS players in their opening match of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, but it was FC Dallas academy product Andy Ruiz of Guatemala who stole the show.
Ruiz slammed home a 89th-minute equalizer on an eye-popping volley from 20 yards out on a recycled corner kick to give Guatemala a surprising 1-1 draw Friday in Group A action at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.
The US were seemingly cruising to a workman-like 1-0 result following a 58th-minute goal by Tottenham Hotspur product Cameron Carter-Vickers, also off a corner kick, but they are now left chasing Group A leader Panama after their 4-0 win earlier in the day over Aruba.
The US, who fielded a starting XI that included San Jose Earthquakes attacker Tommy Thompson, LA Galaxy forward Bradford Jamieson IV, Columbus Crew midfielder Romain Gall, FC Dallas midfielder Kellyn Acosta and New York Red Bulls center back Matt Miazga, dominated the action throughout most of the evening and outshot the Guatemalans 15-7.
The bulk of the US’ pressure came through deep runs on the wings by forwards Gall and Club Tijuana’s Paul Arriola and wingers Junior Flores, a Borussia Dortmund prospect, and Jamieson.
Their best chance at a first-half goal came in the 12th minute when Thompson took a cross to the right corner of the box and fired a point-blank shot that Guatemala goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen Godoy turned away with a nice reaction save.
In the 44th minute, the Yanks nearly broke through after a free kick was dummied through cleverly by Jamieson in front of goal to big center back Carter-Vickers, but he couldn’t put the rsliding shot on frame.
After halftime, the US again let a good chance go by the board when Gall came down with the ball in the box, but he blasted his shot just wide.
But in the 58th minute, Cater-Vickers got it right, rising over his defender to head in a corner kick from second-half substitute Emerson Hyndman for the 1-0 lead.
Arriola nearly doubled the lead off an 85th-minute corner kick, but his spinning shot flew high.
Of Guatemala’s few chances, a shot by Christopher Paolo Ortiz Roca off a 56th-minute corner kick that had to be blocked by US center back John Requejo was among their most dangerous.
But they got forward late, and Requejo was forced to clear a Guatemala attack in the 88th minute, leading to the winning corner kick by Diego Escobar, which was cleared out to an awaiting Ruiz, who picked it right off the turf with a right-footed missile that left US goalkeeper Zach Steffen no chance.
The US continue their Group A schedule Wednesday against Aruba.
