U.S. Para 7-A-Side NT Sets Record with 13-0 Win Over Finland at World Cup

Shea Hammond  - 2019 IFCPF World Cup - U.S. Para 7-a-Side National Team
Shea Hammond  - 2019 IFCPF World Cup - U.S. Para 7-a-Side National Team

Six Players Scored in Largest Margin of Victory for USA at World Finals

SEVILLA, Spain (July 10, 2019) – The U.S. Para 7-a-Side National Team set new team records at an international tournament with a 13-0 victory over Finland in its second Group B match at the IFCPF World Cup. Nick Mayhugh scored five, 17-year-old Shea Hammond notched a hat trick, Cameron DeLillo added a brace and Adam Ballou, Drew Bremer and Tyler Bennett also got on the board in the USA’s largest scoring output and margin of victory in a world finals competition in the modern era.

The USA wasted little time taking the lead on an over-matched Finland side that is participating in its first world finals since 2011. Mayhugh picked off a goal kick and put it away in the first minute of play.

Hammond then scored three times in a seven-minute span, starting with a short tap-in, then a shot across his body, and finally a blast from 22 yards out. Mayhugh snuck his second goal of the day in between and then added three more in a five-minute window to put the USA up 8-0 before the break.

The USA kept its foot on the pedal in the second half, adding five more. Substitute DeLillo scored from close range and then drew a penalty kick that Ballou converted. DeLillo then rounded the goalkeeper for his second of the day before Bremer got on the board with a well-taken free kick from the top of the box. Bennett closed out the scoring in the final minute with a no-look back-heel over the goalkeeper.

In the day’s other group match, Iran (1-1-0; 3pts) came from behind to defeat Ireland (1-1-0; 3pts) 4-1.

Up Next: The USA will close out Group B play against Ireland on Friday, July 12 at 1 p.m. ET, needing a tie or win to top the group. The USA enters its final match with six points from two games, while Ireland and Iran sit at three points each. Iran will play Finland on Friday. Fans can follow along on twitter @ussoccer_pnt and Instagram at @ussoccer_pnt.

NOTES:

  • While the USA scored 13 goals – the most in a match at this tournament through two matchdays – tournament regulations stipulate that that maximum allowed goal differential in a given game is 10.
  • Head coach Stuart Sharp made four changes from the group that started the opener versus Iran, inserting goalkeeper Carter Alvey, defender Jacob Crumbley, midfielder Tyler Bennett and forward Shea Hammond, replacing Sean Boyle, David Garza, Drew Bremer and Cameron DeLillo.
  • Veteran Tyler Bennett wore the captain’s armband with team captains Seth Jahn, Josh Brunais and David Garza not playing today.
  • Thirteen of the 14 players have played through the first two matches, with Ballou, Bremer, DeLillo, Lindau and Mayhugh playing in both and only Jacob Kaplan yet to see minutes.
  • Ballou has now scored in five of the six world finals tournaments that he’s participated in: 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, missing out only in 2013. This was his 13th goal in world finals competition.
  • At 17-years-old, Shea Hammond became the second youngest USA player score in this tournament (Ballou, 16 in 2009) and youngest to register a hat trick.
  • Mayhugh’s seven goals are the most for the USA in a single tournament. His five goals are also a team single-game high. The previous high for goals in a tournament was six by DeLillo in the 2017 World Championships.
  • Hammond and Mayhugh become the second and third players to register a hat trick. DeLillo scored three in a 6-0 win over Australia in the 2017 group stage opener.
  • Bennett’s goal was his first at the finals since scoring against Portugal in the 2013 CPISRA Intercontinental Cup.

-U.S. Para 7-a-Side National Team Match Report-

Match: U.S. Para 7-a-Side National Team vs. Guadeloupe
Date: July 10, 2019
Competition: 2019 IFCPF World Cup
Venue: Ciudad Deportiva Sevilla FC Cisneros Palacios, Sevilla, Spain
Kickoff: 3:00 a.m. ET
Attendance: ---
Weather: 80 degrees, sunny

Scoring Summary:           1             2             F
USA                                      8             5             13
FIN                                       0             0             0

USA – Nick Mayhugh       1st minute
USA – Shea Hammond    9
USA – Shea Hammond    10
USA – Nick Mayhugh       12
USA – Shea Hammond    16
USA – Nick Mayhugh       22
USA – Nick Mayhugh       22
USA – Nick Mayhugh       27
USA – Cameron DeLillo  40
USA – Adam Ballou          14
USA – Cameron DeLillo  45
USA – Drew Bremer         55
USA – Tyler Bennett        60

Lineups:
USA: 12-Carter Alvey, 3-Jacob Crumbley, 6-Ben Lindau, 7-Adam Ballou (8-Drew Bremer, 46), 9-Nick Mayhugh (2-Cameron DeLillo, 31), 11-Tyler Bennett (capt), 14-Shea Hammond
Substitutes not used: 1-Sean Boyle, 4-Jacob Kaplan, 5-Seth Jahn, 10-David Garza (capt), 13-Josh Brunais
Head coach: Stuart Sharp

FIN: 1- Janne Helander, 4-Simo Mykkanen, 6-Aleksi Asikainen, 7-Antti Hovi (9-Ville Kuronen, 30), 8-Mikael Jukarainen (15-Heikki Rantala, 17; 16-Nico Savolainen, 52), 10-Johannes Siikonen, 13-Juho Ovaska (5-Bulcsu Szekely, 52)
Substitutes not used: 17-Timo Halmeskaki
Head coach: Ville Sallinen

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: Navarez
Second Referee: Gonzalez
Third Referee: Rahimov
Fourth Official: Hee

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