Match Report: Saint Kitts and Nevis U17s 0-10 US U17 Men’s National Team

(Photo courtesy USYNT Social Media)

The United States’ Men’s Under-17 National Team went on a 10-0 rout Saturday evening against Saint Kitts and Nevis in its second match of the 2026 CONCACAF U-17 World Cup Qualifying.

Earlier in the day, fellow Group E member the Dominican Republic bested Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10-0, extending their goal differential to 15. Thus, the United States needed to beat Saint Kitts and Nevis by eight or more goals to bring its own goal differential above that mark going into the final match of the qualifier.

Philadelphia Union II’s striker Malik Jakupovic, who had scored two goals off the bench against Saint Vincent on Thursday, and Union Academy’s goalkeeper Matthew White started in the match. The US U-17s made nine changes to the lineup from Thursday’s victory due to the quick turnaround between matches in this tournament.

First half

The United States got on the board right away in the seventh minute through Malik Jakupovic. He scored his third goal in two matches after a ball perfectly whipped in by Myles Gardner on the right sideline. Gardner assisted Jakupovic’s first goal in the U17s previous match, too.

Jakupovic doubled the advantage in the 23rd minute, juggling the ball to hold it up and get past two defenders to place it confidently into the net. He received the ball from a long, lobbed pass by Mattheo Dimareli from about the halfway mark.

The Union striker nearly got his hat trick a minute later, but the goalkeeper, Victor Hart, made an impressive kick save to keep it out. A goal from Myles Gardner was called offside in the 26th minute. Jakupovic had the would-be assist with a touch while laying on the pitch.

Jermaine Powell of Saint Kitts and Nevis saw the first caution of the match for a foul just outside the box on Mattheo Dimareli. The challenge required a stoppage in play so that Dimareli could receive treatment. Dimareli hit the bar on the ensuing free kick.

Vincente Garcia was fouled inside the box in the 35th minute. He stepped up to the spot for the penalty and scored his first-ever goal for the US U-17s.

After the goal, the hosts made a change at right back, bringing on T’Quandre Burroughs for Jermaine Powell, who received a yellow earlier.

Jakupovic got his hat trick in the 44th minute, receiving a through ball from Gardner, then cutting inside to hammer the shot into the side netting.

The ball rarely left St. Kitts and Nevis’ defensive half, but the hosts were able to keep up a high press against the USA, suffocating a few promising chances.

Second half

Saint Kitts and Nevis were forced to switch keepers at the half after earlier concerns for the lower extremity of Victor Hart Jr, who has been a mainstay in the U17 side for the past two years. Brian Collins made his first international appearance by coming on for him.

Within a minute of kickoff, another St. Kitts’ Jaheem Hazel went down and required attention. He ended up being fit to continue.

Collins brought down Mattheo Dimareli just outside of the box in what looked like a DOGSO foul. The referee chose to give a yellow card to the substitute goalkeeper and award a penalty. Saint Kitts and Nevis did not have a third keeper on their roster.

Dimareli stepped up to the spot and slotted it in to make it five.

The United States made its first substitutions in the 61st minute, bringing on Peter Molinari and Paul Sokoloff for Landry Walker and Vincente Garcia.

Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Joshua Finch took a hit while trying to make a tackle and required the stretcher to get off the pitch. Roko Pehar missed an open net on the following corner kick.

The United States made two more changes in the 68th minute. KK Spivey and Will Ostrander entered for Roko Pehar and Myles Gardner.

A sixth goal came in from the head of fullback Eddie Chadwick after some strong buildup by the United States right after the changes. Astin Mbaye of AC Milan played the ball over the box for the assist.

Dimareli scored his second three minutes later, having been left unmarked at the back post. Malik Jakupovic added to his outing with an assist on that goal.

The United States’ final change was Prince Forfor for Mattheo Dimareli.

A handball in the box by Saint Kitts’ Adondre Eddy gave a third penalty to the United States. Jakupovic made easy work of it to bag his fourth. The goal solidified the United States’ goal differential to put them at the top of the group going into the final match.

That did not stop Jakupovic, who went on to get a fifth in the 84th minute from outside the box.

Substitute Prince Forfor got in on the scoring in the 90th minute to make it double-digits for the USA. By then, the US coaching staff seemed to require their team to make a certain number of passes between them before they could push forward and attack.

The result eliminated Saint Kitts and Nevis from qualification contention.

Next match

The U17MNT will finish this year’s CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier against the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, February 10th at 1 PM. Both a win or a draw will see the United States qualify for a record 20th U17 World Cup later this year.

Three Points:

Union Academy goalkeeper Matthew White earned his first US Youth National Team cap. He did not face a single shot in the match.

Malik Jakupovic still has that eye for goal, scoring five and assisting one on the night. He played the full 90 minutes.

Houston Dynamo’s Myles Gardner paired very well with Jakupovic and had some strong chances of his own.

Lineups

United States

Matthew White; Astin Mbaye, Tyson Espy, Eddie Chadwick, Daniel Barrett, Vincente Garcia (Paul Sokoloff– 61’), Landry Walker (Peter Molinari– 61’), Roko Pehar (KK Spivey– 68’), Myles Gardner (Will Ostrander– 68’), Malik Jakupovic, Mattheo Dimareli (Prince Forfor– 76’)

Unused subs: James Donaldson; Keller Abbott, Aaron Medina, Max Steelman, Liam Vejrostek

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Victor Hart (Brian Collins– 46’); Kejaun Pollock, Khamarl Wattley, Joshua Finch (Lajewan Jeffers– 69’), Ajnarel Wilkinson, Joshua Nais, Savi-K Morton (Niza’iah Skeete– 89’), Adondre Eddy, Jaheem Hazel, Jermaine Powell (T’Quandre Burroughs– 38’), Kymarni Newton

Unused Subs: Kvondrey Adams, V’dondre Akers, Dequandre Liburd