The US Under-20 national team will get a chance to defend its regional Concacaf championship title after defeating Honduras 1-0 on Monday night in Bradenton, Florida.
A 51st minute strike by Toronto FC forward Ayo Akinola (pictured above) was all the US U-20s needed to dispatch Honduras 1-0 and set up a date against regional archrivals Mexico on Wednesday night (7 pm ET on UDN, concacafgo.com). It was Akinola's 7th goal of the competition, tying him for most goals on the team with LA Galaxy product Ulysses Llanez.
The US team, coached by former MLS and USMNT legend Tab Ramos, had already clinched a berth to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup by virtue of its 4-0 victory over Costa Rica on November 16.
Although the latest result against Honduras was a tight affair, the USA have steamrolled the competition with seven straight victories by a combined score of 44-2. The Americans' last four wins have been shutouts.
The Concacaf Under-20 final will pit the two most recent champions of the competition. Mexico were victors in 2015, while the USA succeeded them by taking the 2017 crown. El Tri came from behind to tie Panama 2-2 earlier on Monday to secure a spot in the final alongside the United States.
USA U-20s vs. Honduras: David Ochoa -- Sergiño Dest (80' Manny Perez), Mark McKenzie (capt.), Chris Richards, Chris Gloster -- Alex Mendez, Brandon Servania (77' Juan Pablo Torres), Frankie Amaya -- Ayo Akinola, Sebastian Soto, Paxton Pomykal (84' Justin Rennicks)
