Teenager Justin Ellis scored and Brian Schwake made three saves when the U.S. men’s national team defeated Canada 1-0 in Saint Paul, Minn., on Tuesday for a fourth straight win.
The Americans had lost two straight to their neighbor to the north but moved ahead in the 29th minute and held on.
Schwake, in his first USMNT start and second appearance, preserved the lead in the 61st minute with a fingertip save to push a shot by Luc de Fougerolles off the crossbar in the 64th minute.
Canada kept probing and Promise David got free in the box but sent a shot wide of the frame in the 79th minute.
Ellis made it 1-0 on a gimpy right ankle. Moments after coming close to being subbed after a reckless challenge by Stephen Eustaquio, Ellis sprinted down the middle as Malik Tillman and Alex Freeman played a give-and-go on the left wing before Freeman sent a cross, or maybe it was a shot, which was headed to the far post.
Ellis got past a defender and redirected the ball with his right foot for the 19-year-old’s second goal in three career international matches.
It continued a trend during this first post-World Cup window that saw the U.S. defeat Peru (4-1), Chile (4-2) and Mexico (3-0). Of those 11 goals, six were by teenagers and Ellis of Orlando City of MLS added to the total.
In this window Mathis Albert vs. Chile became the youngest goalscorer in USMNT history at 17 years, 131 days. The record stood four days until Cavan Sullivan (17, 5) scored against Mexico on Saturday.
The first half was feisty with 23 fouls — 13 against Canada — but the U.S. was not able to take advantage of four corner kicks in the final three minutes prior to the break.
For the match, Canada committed 21 fouls and the U.S. had 22 and both were issued two yellow cards.
Forward Cole Campbell entered in the 61st minute, the last of the 13 players to make their U.S. debuts in this window.
–Field Level Media
