African champions Amajita have advanced to the knockout stage of the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup with a 2-1 defeat of the USA in their deciding Group E match at Estadio El Teniete on Sunday.
USA scored twice the opener through Noah Cobb and the other an own goal from Joshua Wynder, while Gomolemo Kekana netted the winner to see South Africa finish second in the pool, tied on six points with the USA in first spot and France behind them from three matches.
South Africa came into the match needing to win, draw or not lose by more than six goals to progress as one of the best third placed sides. Coach Raymond Mdaka made one change from the side that started in the 5-0 victory over New Caledonia as Thato Sibiya replaced Langlihle Phili.
Mdaka’s charges missed a chance to take the lead inside the opening five minutes through Siviwe Magidigidi but the American defense denied him. Fletcher Lowe was called make a save in the ninth minute when Marcos Zambrano tested him.
Three minutes later USA won a set-piece Matthew Corcoran swung the ball into the box to find Cobb who made no mistake breaking the deadlock.
The lead lasted only five minutes as Sibiya crossed into the box for Magidigidi but the ball landed on Wynder who headed into his own net to level matters. Amajita took the lead at the stroke of half-time after Shakeel April set up Kekana who scored the second and gave Amajita the lead at the break.
Both sides returned unchanged from the break and USA could have equalised two minutes into the half though captain Benjamin Cremaschi but Lowe denied. The South African goal minder also denied Zambrano in the 65th minute. Kekana could have made it 3-1 for Amajita from an April cross with 10 minutes to go but was denied by Adam Beaudry.
The win see Amajita secure second spot in the group, with USA remaining in first as they top the head-to-head mini table between themselves, South Africa and France after beating the latter 3-0.
