BRADENTON, Florida – With the group stage of the 2019 Concacaf Under-17 Championship concluded and the action headed to the Knockout stage, it is the perfect time to reflect on what has been a thrilling start to the CU17, punctuated by a special group of goalscorers.
Look no further than the tournament’s leading scorer, Geancarlo Castro of Costa Rica. The Tico has six goals, two more than any other player. Not only did Castro score in every group stage match, but his goal total went up per match.
After tallying a single score in the 2-2 draw with Panama, Castro bagged a brace in a 3-0 win over Curacao and then notched a hat trick in Monday’s 6-0 victory against Suriname.
There have been other hat-trick heroes though in this tournament. Mexico’s Santiago Munoz and Jamaica’s Rajay Wright lit up Group E by each scoring a trio of goals in a single match.
Munoz achieved his feat in the group stage finale, a 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago, while Wright also conjured up some final day magic with three goals in a 4-2 win over Bermuda.
Special mention is also due to Canada’s Jayden Nelson, whose hat trick proved the difference in Canada’s 4-2 win against Guatemala.
Another player who has emerged at this CU17 is El Salvador’s Saul Emerson. The Cuscatleco danger man scored in each of El Salvador’s three group stage games, including a brace in the 4-0 win over Guyana and a key opening goal in El Salvador’s narrow 2-1 win over Central American rivals Honduras.
There will be a host of other players to watch when the Round of 16 is in action on Wednesday and Thursday.
Haiti’s Michel Pierre had a brace in Haiti’s 6-0 group stage final win versus Guyana and could be poised for another breakout against the Dominican Republic, while a brace in the 3-0 win over Guatemala will sure be a confidence boost for Griffin Yow of the United States.
The exploits of these young goal-scorers should make for an entertaining finish to the CU17.
