New Zealand: Rubio Rubin scored twice around goals by Emerson Hyndman and Paul Arriola, and the United States routed host New Zealand 4-0 Tuesday at Wellington to become the first team to reach the second round of the Under-20 World Cup.
The US, 2-0 for the first time in 14 appearances at the tournament, closes the group stage against Ukraine on Friday. The Americans opened with a 2-1 win over Myanmar last weekend.
On a wet and cold day, Rubin put the US ahead in the sixth minute he tapped in a cross from Bradford Jamieson IV following Hyndman's corner kick.
Hyndman, doubled the lead in the 34th when he scored through the arms of goalkeeper Oliver Sail with a right-footed shot after Rubin's initial attempt was blocked by the keeper. Hyndman, a grandson of former Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman, became the first American to score in consecutive matches at the tournament since Jozy Altidore in 2007.
Arriota made it 3-0 in the 58th when he took a pass from Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zelalem, ran into the penalty area and scored with a right-footed shot that went in off the left post. Zelalem became eligible last montg to play for the Americans and made his first start for the U.S. team.
Rubin scored the final goal in the 83rd when he tapped in a cross from Desevio Payne.
Zack Steffen got the shutout for the Americans, who outshot New Zealand 30-11.
In the other Group A game, Ukraine (1-0-1) defeated Myanmar 6-0 as Viktor Kovalenko had two goals and two goal assists. Ukraine had opened with a 0-0 tie against the hosts.
In Group B, Ghana upset South American champion Argentina 3-2 and Austria defeated Panama 2-1.
Ghana opened a 3-0 lead on goals by Benjamin Tetteh in the 44th and Clifford Aboagye in the 59th followed by Yaw Yebboah's penalty kick in the 69th. Argentina closed when Giovanni Simeone scored in the 80th and Emiliano Buendia in the 90th.
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