The US national team finished bottom of their group at the Under-17 World Cup in Chile, as they lost 4-1 to the host country on Friday and will not be advancing to the knockout stage.
The US took an early lead courtesy of Brandon Vazquez, but Chile scored four unanswered goals courtesy of Marcelo Allende, Gabriel Mazuela, Gonzalo Jara and Camilo Moya.
Both teams entered the final matchday in the group stage at the bottom of Group A, with a win needed for either team to have a shot of overtaking Croatia to guarantee passage to the knockout stage.
Vazquez nearly put the Americans ahead five minutes in, as his header off a Christian Pulisic (pictured above) corner kick bounced inches wide of the far post.
But Vazquez grabbed his goal five minutes later, as Chile were unable to bring a ball upfield and Luca de la Torre pounced on the ball, transitioning quickly before sending a pass up to Vasquez. The striker had work to do, getting a touch around a defender in the box before getting it in the net to put the US ahead 1-0.
Allende got the equalizer in the 20th minute, as he pounced on a poor clearance in the US box and quickly hit a deflected shot that went past US goalkeeper Will Pulisic.
The hosts went ahead in the 52nd minute, as an outstanding throughball by Luciano Diaz reached Mazuela in the box. He hit a one-time shot that was partially blocked by Will Pulisic, then slid through, appeared to handle the loose ball past Pulisic, and poked home the second try. Pulisic complained to the referee about the handball, to no avail.
The US had difficulty holding onto the ball for sustained periods in the game, but ramped up their intensity in the final minutes to try to salvage their hopes of advancing.
Christian Pulisic had a decent look with about 15 minutes to go, as his stinging shot forced a save from Chilean goalkeeper Zacarias Lopez. The US appealed for a penalty moments later as substitute Haji Wright went over in the box after being tugged on the shoulder, but the referee waved for play to continue.
Jara sent the home crowd celebrating in the 86th minute as he iced the win with a beautiful curling goal, taken under no pressure from about 20 yards out.
Moya added the capper with the last kick of the game, as he made a late run into the box and buried Mazuela's cross to make it 4-1. But a win by Croatia over Nigeria in the other game in the group on Friday ultimately means the Chileans will be awaiting other results in the tournament to see if they will move on.
The US did not qualify for the last U-17 World Cup, in 2013, the first time they failed to qualify for the tournament. The last time they did not make it out of group stage at the U-17 World Cup was 2001.
