A Sullivan Penalty in the Second Half Helped the U.S. to its Second Group Stage Victory
The U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team secured its place in the knockout rounds of the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup with a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Tajikistan in Doha, Qatar. The win, fueled by stellar performances from Nimfasha Berchimas and Cavan Sullivan, gave the Americans six points from two matches and guaranteed advancement to the Round of 32.
After falling behind in the third minute when Muhammad Nazriev capitalized on an intercepted pass, the U.S. struggled initially to break down Tajikistan's compact defensive setup. The equalizer arrived in the 30th minute when Sullivan delivered a pinpoint corner kick to the back post, where Berchimas rose to head home. The goal made history, as Berchimas became the only American to score in two editions of the U-17 World Cup, adding to his three goals from the 2023 tournament in Indonesia.
The decisive moment came in the 61st minute when Sullivan stepped up to take a penalty after Berchimas was fouled in the box. The 16-year-old Philadelphia Union homegrown midfielder displayed remarkable composure, executing a panenka, a chip straight down the middle as the goalkeeper dove left. The audacious finish marked Sullivan's second goal in as many matches at the tournament.
Head coach Gonzalo Segares made four lineup changes from the opening match, inserting Sullivan into midfield alongside Luca Moisa and Mateo Tsakiris. The Americans dominated possession, outshooting Tajikistan 19-2, and will face Czechia on Tuesday with top spot in Group I within reach. This marks the 11th time the U.S. has reached the U-17 World Cup knockout stage.
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