JPAC Bronze Match Ends in Shootout Heartbreak for U-21 USMNT
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SURREY, BC, Canada – In a rematch of the 2023 edition, the 2024 Junior Pan American Championships men’s bronze medal match saw the No. 25 U.S. U-21 Men’s National Team take on No. 17 Chile. After a 1-1 tie at regulation, the contest went into shootouts, where Chile defeated the Junior Wolves, 3-2, in a sudden victory round.
There was a lot on the line for the two teams in this match-up. USA were looking for revenge both for last year’s bronze medal game and for this year’s opening loss. In addition to the third-place title and bronze medal, Junior World Cup qualification was on the line.
The energy and tension was present as the starting whistle sounded. Chile began patient with their possession in the backfield, which USA matched with a low press, waiting for the opportune time to strike. With 4 minutes left in the quarter, Mehtab Grewal (Somis, Calif.) found one of those chances when he forced a turnover, taking the ball up the field, but lost possession when there were no passing options available. Again, USA allowed Chile to pass without pressure in their backfield, putting on pressure when an outside back tried to push up the field. A fairly quiet quarter ended with a scoreline of 0-0.
Two minutes into the second quarter, USA finally had a breakout chance with a penalty corner. The drag flick by Sekayi Charasika (Louisville, Ky.) was blocked by Chile’s goalkeeper, but USA was right back with another set piece chance within a minute. This time, the drag from Charasika was good, giving USA the go-ahead goal. At the 20-minute mark, Chile earned their first penalty corner chance, but the USA defense held strong.
Unlike the USA, Chile was putting high pressure on the USA defenders as they tried to outlet the ball. The red, white, and blue found themselves with a few more good chances, as Wyatt Katz (Santa Rosa Valley, Calif.) had a shot on goal that was saved, and Charasika sent a reverse shot high over the cage. The Junior Wolves retained their 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
5 minutes into the second half, Chile broke through with a goal of their own, slipping one past Amar Singh (Santa Clara, Calif.). USA utilized their video referral, but the call stood. With renewed energy, Chile was holding onto more possession of the ball and forcing more mistakes from the USA side, who had been so patient with their defense in the first half. With 2 minutes to play in the quarter, the Junior Wolves picked up their pace as they attempted a few more bursts up the field. In the final minute, Willem Pouw (Santa Rosa Valley, Calif.) passed a nice ball up to Brett Eisner (Lafayette, Calif.), but the Chile defense won the ball back and streaked up the field. The break forced Singh to step up and make a big save, as the frame ended with a 1-1 tie.
The already rowdy fans amped up their energy for the final quarter as the two teams had 15 minutes to break the stalemate. A chance for Chile in the 47th minute in their attacking circle looked dangerous, but the ball eventually went harmlessly over the endline. There were more chances for USA to showcase their defense in the next few minutes, as Chile put on sustained pressure. There was a good look for the red, white and blue at minute 53 with a penalty corner, but the shot from Charasika went wide. Tensions were at an all-time high when Chile won a penalty corner opportunity with two minutes left to play. The shot went wide, and then it was USA on the offensive. The Junior Wolves won their own set piece chance, which also went wide. The match, like the semifinal between the U.S. women and Chile two days prior, would go into shootouts.
It would be Chile to shoot first, with Singh defending in cage for USA. The first chance was good for Chile, as a reverse hit went in high over Singh. Charasika went first for USA, whose chance was reviewed after going in and taken back for an offensive foul. Singh made a save on Chile’s second chance, and Rory Bleeker (Liden, Netherlands) sent in a reverse chip from the top of the circle. Singh had another big save on Chile’s third shooter, but Katz was unable to put it in for USA, keeping it tied at 1-1 after three rounds. The fourth shooter for Chile was fouled by Singh to earn a penalty stroke, which was made. Grewal missed on USA’s fourth chance, putting the pressure on Singh to make the next stop.
Singh was up to the challenge, denying Chile’s fifth attempt, as Lasse Nobereit (Koenigstein, Germany) made his attempt to keep USA alive and send it to sudden victory shootouts. It would be Charasika up first, but he was unable to make the attempt, putting USA in a tough spot. Chile finished on their attempt, giving them a 3-2 shootout victory and the bronze medal, as USA took a fourth place finish.
After the the conclusion of the event, USA's Amar Singh was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
For more information regarding the 2024 Junior Pan American Championships, visit the event page.
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