Eniola Olatunji Reporting 

The Teniente or Junior Yankees of USA on Thursday night in Chile drubbed the Gli Azzurrins of Italy 3-0 to move into the quarterfinals of the world U20 tournament.

Benjamin Grenmaschi was the spoiler of the night with his brace scored in the 15th and 90+3 when the Italians lost momentary concentration.  It was his 5th goal in the tournament having scored a hat-trick against New Caledonia at the group stage. Niko Tsakinis scored the 2nd goal for USA in the 79th minute.  

Twice Italy lost penalty kicks to VAR decision in the 86th and 89th minute. Nigeria’s Atlanta Junior team player, Osarumwense Idale featured in the midfield against USA played his 3rd match in the tournament for 84 minutes before he was substituted ending his game stats with no goal, no assists but went home with a yellow card.

Both teams met twice with Italy winning both and scoring 5 of the 6 goals. On 21st June 2005 Italy dazed USA 3-1 and on 25th June 2008 Italy won 2-0.

USA was making her 18th appearances at the tournament with only one podium finish in 1989 when they lost the Bronze to hosts Saudi Arabia 0-2.

Italy never lifting the trophy losing in the final of Argentina 2023 0-1 to Uruguay; and placing 4th at Poland 2019 losing to Ecuador 0-1 after Extra Time.

To get to the Round of 16 games USA whipped New Caledonia 9-1; beat France 3-0 and fell to South Africa 1-2. Italy had piped Australia by a lone goal; drew 2-2 with Cuba and lost by a lone goal to Argentina.

As at the time of filing this report Africa’s Atlas Lions of Morocco was warming up to devour the Red Devils of South Korea in the last match of the Round of 16 games.

USA is on stand bye to meet the winner of the Morocco versus South Korea match in the quarter final at Rancagua on Sunaday at 9pm. France will meet Norway in the quarterfinal on Sunday at Midnight Nigerian time. Mexico will meet Argentina in the quarterfinals at 9pm on Saturday in Chile’s most populated city of Santiago. Columbia will face the dreaded Spanish boys on Saturday at 9pm in the 1st quarterfinal.

The 4th quarterfinal will feature Norway against France at Valparaiso at midnight of 12th October.