The United States Under-17 men's national soccer team has opened the CONCACAF regional qualifying tournament for the world championship with a 3-0 win over Jamaica in Guatemala City. The Group A game Wednesday night marked the international debut of 13-year-old American Freddy Adu.
Adu would not disappoint those who came to see him. He scored one goal and assisted on another. The United States defense pitched a shutout for the 14th time in its last 22 matches.
Corey Ashe scored the first goal in the fifth minute on an assist from Adu. John DiRaimondo headed home a crossing pass from Guillermo Gonzalez for a 2-0 lead at halftime. Adu wrapped up the scoring with a brilliant scoring run in the 92nd minute.
Adu, who moved with his family to the United States from Ghana in 1997, had not been allowed to play for the American squad in an official match until he became a U.S. citizen. That process was finalized about a month ago.
The United States next faces El Salvador on Friday before concluding play against Guatemala on Sunday. El Salvador and Guatemala fought to a 2-2 draw in the other under-17 match Wednesday night. The winner of the four-team group earns an automatic berth in the U-17 world football championship tournament to be held in Finland in August.