Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the under-20 World Cup game between Spain and USA.
The Spain youngsters will be looking to emulate the recent success of both their senior and under-21 sides, who have triumphed in recent major championships.
America meanwhile, have a tough task ahead of them if they are to qualify from Group A. The other two sides in the group are France and Ghana, who played each other earlier.
The Americans will look to the likes of Shane O'Neill and Jose Villarreal for inspiration, while Spain have one of the tournament's most exciting players, Gerard Deulofeu, among their ranks.
Kick off is at 7pm.
Good evening all and thanks for joining me for this exciting Under-20 World Cup match between Spain and USA.
As I mentioned in the introduction, the Americans really do have a tough task in front of them in Group A. They face Spain today, who are very strong, and will be buoyed by the recent success of the Under-21 and senior counterparts. They will also face 2009 Under-20 World Cup champions Ghana, and France, who thrashed Ghana 3-1 earlier.
USA do have a few exciting youngsters of their own though. Central midfielder Hector Joya has already made his debut in the Mexican top flight, while Jose Villarreal will provide the Spanish defence with a definite threat.
Spain, as you might expect, come into this tournament as one of the favourites. They have only won it once, when the likes of Iker Casillas and Xavi starred in 1999, but their current crop of youngsters triumphed in the European Under-19 championships last year and success seems to come naturally for the Spanish these days.
On top of that, they've got a wealth of talent among their ranks. Barcelona's Gerard Deulofeu is perhaps the most promising of this bunch, but the likes of Denis Suarez, Suso, Oliver and Jose Campana have all got first-team matches under their belt for some of Europe's biggest teams.
With 15 minutes to go until kickoff, let's get the teams in...
USA: Cropper; Yedlin, Ocegueda, Stanko, Torre; Trapp, Joya, Gil; Villarreal, Garcia, Hernandez
SPAIN: Sotres; Manquillo, Derik, Puerto, Bernat; Saul, Campana; Deulofeu, Oliver, Suso; Jese
It really is an exciting Spanish front line. Liverpool's Suso plays on the left of an attacking trio including Deulofeu and the talented playmaker Oliver. The attack is headed by Real Madrid youngster Jese Rodriguez.
USA line up with a 4-3-3 formation, and have a very quick front three, who will hope the likes of Joya and Gil can provide them with the service to hurt Spain's defence.
The players are out on the pitch in Istanbul as we hear the national anthems.
I'm really looking forward to this game. The recent Euro under-21 championship showcased some very talented youngsters and some very good football. Hopefully this tournament can do the same.
USA get the game underway...
The Americans put together a neat passing move in midfield as Gil finds Villarreal, who flicks his header on for Joya to run on to, but Bernat sees the ball out for a goal kick.
Spain are struggling to get much of a foothold so far. USA are pressing them well and forcing the Spanish defenders to play the ball long.
GOAL! USA 0-1 Spain (Jese)
Well, the commentator's curse strikes again! Deulofeu breaks down the left and keeps a long pass in play on the byline. The Barcelona man bides his time before chipping the ball to the back post where an unmarked Jese taps the ball in.
That goal seems to have settled the Spanish down, Oliver and Suso are starting to find space in the middle, with the latter almost releasing Deulofeu but the winger is forced wide and eventually tackled by Torre.
A long throw on the right finds Deulofeu in space again, he beats his man once but allows the defender to get back and clear for a corner. Suso's delivery is cleared though.
CHANCE! Excellent football from USA. Hernandez comes in off the left and finds Gil on the edge of the box. The midfielder flicks the ball through the defence back to Hernandez, whose shot beats the on-rushing goalkeeper but goes just wide of the post!
USA again put together a good move through midfield involving Gil, Hoya and Garcia but come unstuck on the edge of the Spanish box. Spain regain possession and play the ball out on the left, where Jese and Oliver exchange passes before winning a throw on the right.
A strong penalty claim from the Spanish. Suso finds Deulofeu, who flicks the ball on to Manquillo. The full-back skips past his marker inside the box and his tripped but the referee waves play-on!
Oliver breaks from midfield and plays the ball right to Deulofeu. The winger again beats the full-back easily but his cross is scrambled away. Spain win a throw, but USA break with Hernandez, who is blocked off by Manquillo.
YELLOW CARD! Manquillo received a yellow card for a arm across the far of Hernandez.
Another good move from the Americas. Gil finds a clever ball into the box for Garcia, who shoots first time, but sees his shot blocked. USA execute a surprise short-corner routine but Gil overruns the ball and commits a foul.
Suso finds space in midfield and plays an excellent pass over the top for Deulofeu, popping up on the left this time. The winger beats the defender to the ball, but seemingly having his shirt pulled, handles the ball and the referee awards a free kick to USA.
CHANCE! Deulofeu robs Yedlin on the left and finds Oliver inside, who plays the ball on for Suso. The Liverpool man cuts inside and curls the ball just wide of the far post with his left foot.
CHANCE! An excellent chance for Jese to get his second! Jese picks the ball up in midfield and plays the ball through for Deulofeu on the left, who cuts the ball back to Jese but the striker bundles the ball wide while on the stretch!
SAVE! Jese wins the ball off Stanko and plays it right to Suso, who fires the ball across the pitch to Deulofeu, but his tame effort is saved at the second attempt by Cropper.
USA counter on the left and the ball eventually falls to Gill on the edge of the box. The midfielder does well to flick it wide after a poor first touch but Garcia's effort is sliced over the bar.
SAVE! Suso collects the ball on the right and plays a quick one-two with Oliver before cutting inside and curling the ball towards the far post, but Cropper tips it wide, before USA clear the corner.
The Americans break on the right as Yedlin plays the ball to Gil before collecting the return pass and crossing to the back post, but Manquillo heads away well. Spain clear the resulting long throw but Deulofeu loses out to Trapp in the middle.
Suso shows quick feet to beat two defenders and win a corner, but USA clear Oliver's delivery and break. Gil finds Hernandez but Manquillo gets back and wins the ball.
GOAL! USA 0-2 Spain (Deulofeu)
Against the run of play, Spain break on the left with Jese poking the ball wide for Deulofeu. The Barcelona man beats Yedlin before cutting back inside and curling the ball into the far corner from the edge of the box!
GOAL! USA 0-3 Spain (Jese)
An excellent break from Spain as Suso plays the ball with the outside of his foot down the line for Manquillo, running into the box before cutting back and finding Jese, who takes a touch to steady himself before placing the ball beyond Cropper.
SAVE! It could be four to Spain. Suso shows excellent skill again on the right, getting to the byline and pulling the ball back to Oliver, whose deflected effort is well-saved by Croppper. USA clear the resulting corner.
HALF-TIME: USA 0-3 Spain
Spain just managed to step it up a gear at the end of the first half. They were cruising through the opening 35 minutes, before upping the tempo and managing to find space in the wide areas. From there, their quality told and it could be a tough second half for the Americans.
Deulofeu is the undoubted star of this Spain side, but I've been equally impressed with Jese and Suso. Manquillo at right-back has also been heavily involved and looks like a very promising player.
USA have threatened on a couple of occasions, but seem to be missing the class that Spanish possess, particularly in the final third. Hernandez, Villarreal and Garcia have all been willing runners, but only Gil just behind them has looked capable of unlocking this Spanish defence.
Ryan Giggs is among the crowd at this evening's game, and I'm sure there are a few players that he will be recommending to David Moyes. Oliver and Campana have down well in midfield, and as I mentioned the front three have been very impressive, but for me, Manquillo has been as good as anyone.
The players are back out on the pitch and USA have made a change for the second half.
SUBSTITUTION: Mario Rodriguez replaces Hernandez in attack.
Spain kick off...
Spain have struggled to control possession so far. USA are pressing high up the pitch, without much luck and Spain's rare counter attacks are falling apart in the final third.
The Spanish do finally put together a good move, sweeping the ball from left to right via Oliver and Campana. USA win the ball back on the right and Puerto brings down Garcia.
YELLOW CARD! Puerto is booked for coming through the back of Garcia. The American is down receiving treatment for several minutes.
SUBSTITUTION: Garcia is able to walk off the pitch, but is replaced by Daniel Cuevas.
USA break through the middle with Gil, who plays the ball wide towards Villarreal, who is subsequently fouled. He picks himself up to take the free kick but fires over the bar from the right edge of the box.
GOAL! USA 0-4 Spain (Deulofeu)
Campana brings the ball out of defence and plays an excellent ball through to Deulofeu, who rounds the on-rushing goalkeeper and passes the ball into the empty net.
CHANCE! Somehow Manquillo misses the chance to make it five. Running on from the right, Manquillo is found by Suso, before firing straight at the goalkeeper only to collect the rebound and blaze the bouncing ball over the bar!
YELLOW CARD! Villarreal is shown a yellow card after an altercation with Campana.
USA almost get a goal. Hoya picks the ball up on the edge of the box and fires the ball at goal. Sotres allows it to bounce off him to Villarreal but the assistant referee's flag is up.
SUBSTITUTION: Spain make their first change, replacing Campana with Levante midfielder Ruben.
Deulofeu aims for goal straight from a corner, but puts too much curl on the ball and it hits the side netting. He's looked really impressive today, and the Barcelona youngster has made it all look so easy.
SUBSTITUTION: USA make another change. Villarreal goes off for Miguel Lopez Jr.
SUBSTITUTION: Spain make second change, as Derik heads off and is replaced by his Real Madrid teammate Diego Llorente.
YELLOW CARD! Hoya is booked for a high foot on Llorente.
SUBSTITUTION: Paco Alcacer comes on for Spain, in place of Jese.
GOAL! USA 1-4 Spain (Gil)
Perhaps the goal of the game from Gil to get USA on the scoreboard. A loose pass from Oliver is cut out by Rodriguez and the ball breaks for Gil. After a couple of turns on the edge of the box, the American midfielder fires the ball into the top corner with his left foot!
Spain have failed to mount many attacks of merit in this second half, but they haven't really needed to. USA have tried hard to get back into the game, and deserved their goal, but in reality Spain have taken their foot off the gas.
Deulofeu picks the ball up in midfield and skips past Stanko, before trying to beat his man again and get the shot away, but Torre gets back and makes a good tackle.
YELLOW CARD! Ocegueda is shown a yellow card for a very poor challenge on Ruben.
Deulofeu again thwarted as he looks for his hat trick. Suso picks up the ball in midfield and plays the ball inside the full-back to the winger, who can't quite get the ball under control and Cropper pushes it against him for a goal kick.
Oliver tries again to get Deulofeu through on goal but the ball just goes too far and is cleared by Yedlin.
FULL-TIME: USA 1-4 Spain
Spain win very comfortably after an anti-climactic second half. A couple of good goals aside, neither team really looked like they were going to threaten the other in the second 45. USA through lack of ability, Spain through lack of effort.
There work was done in the first half though, in particular the 15 minutes either side of the break.
USA didn't have quite enough quality in the final third, but they have got one or two dangerous players, and they'll need to be at their best in their next game against France.
Deulofeu and Manquillo were the two best players on the field this evening. Honourable mentions for Oliver, Gill, Campana and Jese too.
Thanks for joining me, and have a good evening.
Written by
Daniel Cross
Daniel Cross
