Weah winner sends U.S. into U20 WC knockouts

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:22 am

Tim Weah celebrates after scoring a goal for the U.S. against Qatar at the U20 World Cup.
Tim Weah celebrates after scoring a goal for the U.S. against Qatar at the U20 World Cup.
Getty Images

The United States booked a spot in the U20 World Cup round of 16 with a 1-0 win against Qatar in Poland on Thursday.

Tim Weah scored a classy goal in the 76th minute after the U.S. dispossessed Qatar deep in their own territory, the PSG winger cutting back to his right and firing past Shehab Ellethy to put the Americans in the lead.

The U.S. was made to work for the win with Qatar spending plenty of time on the front foot and narrowly missing out on quality chances in both halves.

Qatar keeper Shehab kept his team in the match with a penalty save against Alex Mendez after Brandon Servania was fouled in the area.

The U.S. will be without both Mendez and Chris Durkin in the first game of the knockout rounds after both picked up their second yellow cards of the group stage and will have to sit out a match.

The result, combined with Nigeria's 1-1 draw with Ukraine, sees the U.S. finish second in Group D and will face the winners of Group E, either France or Mali, on June 4th.