U.S. Tops Haiti 4-1 to Open CONCACAF U-20 Qualifying

[T.K.]

<TR><TD class=header_titles_black valign="top">U.S. Tops Haiti 4-1 to Open CONCACAF U-20 Qualifying </TD></TR><TR><TD valign="top"></TD> </TR><TR><TD class=left_nav_italic valign="top">- Andre Akpan Scores Hat Trick in His First International Appearance With Under-20s
- U.S. Can Advance to FIFA U-20 World Cup With a Victory Over Guatemala on Friday, Jan. 19
- Match Against Guatemala Will Be Live on GolTV and ussoccer.com's MatchTracker at 6:30 p.m. ET
</TD></TR><TR><TD valign="top"></TD> </TR><TR><TD valign="top"></TD> </TR><TR><TD class=bodytext valign="top"><DIV><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width=246 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center align=middle> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=greycontent align=left>Andre Akpan scored a hat trick vs. Haiti.
©Trent Davol/U.S. Soccer </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center align=middle height=20><DIV align=center><SPAN class=links_normal>Photo Gallery </SPAN></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width=246 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right width=246><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" bgColor=#777777 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=a_header_white align=left height=20> <SPAN class=header_white>Related Articles </SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD class=a_body_text_grey1 vAlign=top align=left><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=a_body_text vAlign=top>Quote Sheet: U-20 MNT vs. Haiti Post-Game Comments</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA (January 17, 2007) — Behind a hat trick from forward Andre Akpan, the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team opened Group A of the 2007 CONCACAF Final Round Qualifying Tournament with a 4-1 victory over Haiti at Rommel Fernandez Stadium in Panama City, Panama. The U.S. sits atop the group with three points.

Playing in his first international match with the U-20s, Akpan scored the first, second and fourth goals for the U.S. on the night. Akpan headed home the opening goal in the 26th minute, before tapping home a Danny Szetela corner kick in the first half and a cross from Robbie Rogers in the second. The third goal was notched by Anthony Wallace when the newly drafted FC Dallas midfielder scored three minutes into the second half. The lone goal for Haiti came on a penalty kick in the 73rd minute.

By virtue of Panama and Guatemala’s 1-1 draw in the second match of the night, the U.S. can solidify its place in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup with a victory in their next match against Guatemala on Friday, Jan. 19, at 6:30 p.m. ET. Fans can follow the match live on GolTV or usssoccer.com’s MatchTracker. The U.S. and Guatemala are no strangers as the two countries met twice in November (once in a closed-door match) with the U.S. coming away with 2-1 victories in both matches.

The U.S. is attempting to qualify for a CONCACAF record sixth straight FIFA U-20 World Cup, and their 11th overall. The current

[Mosiah]

RE: U.S. Tops Haiti 4-1 to Open CONCACAF U-20 Qualifying

<DIV>Did the Player Formerly Known as The Phenom do anything other than captain the team?</DIV><DIV></DIV><DIV></DIV>

[ForFar]

RE: U.S. Tops Haiti 4-1 to Open CONCACAF U-20 Qualifying

Freddy did very well as captain!!

The US dismantled Haiti without much effort...a task the Jamaica players make look difficult.