SALOU, Spain (November 11, 2004) - The U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team opened its 2024 IFCPF World Cup campaign with a convincing 5-0 victory over Australia Monday morning at the Mediterranean Sports Village.
Jacob Crumbley registered a brace and an assist, Nick Mayhugh scored his first goal since his last official match in 2019 and added two assists, and Wesley Pincince and Chileshe Chitulangoma each scored their first international goals as the USA opened Group C play.
Head Coach Stuart Sharp fielded a strong first-seven, with veteran goalkeeper Marc Estrella supported in the back by John Sullivan and Frankie Lowery. Captain Lindau and Pincince managed the midfield, with Mayhugh and Crumbley up top.
The game was a chess match for the first 10 minutes, with both sides managing only long range shots that failed to test either goalkeeper.
However the U.S. started warming up shortly after.
Mayhugh sent a low corner into the area that Lowery lunged to redirect on goal only for a defender to clear it off the line. Minutes later Mayhugh attempted a curling shot from the left that went narrowly wide of the right post.
The U.S then broke the game open.
In the 36th minute, Lindau won possession on the offensive side of the half and played back out of pressure to Crumbley past midfield, who found Mayhugh make a diagonal run from left to right. Mayhugh flicked the ball past his mark and took off downfield, entering the area and from a tight angle sent a low ball to the back post past goalkeeper David Proctor to give the U.S. the lead. It was Mayhugh’s 36th international goal - and his first since August 31, 2019 against Venezuela at the Para Panamerican Games. Shortly thereafter Mayhugh concentrated on track and excelled at the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics Games.
The U.S. doubled the lead two minutes later with a beautiful, seven-pass sequence. Mayhugh collected a loose ball on the defensive half and crossed midfield, finding Pincince down the left side. With no option as he reached the endline, Pincince played a ball back to Lowery at midfield, who sent it to Sullivan on the right flank. The defender played it to Pincince at the top of the box, he then dropped to Lindau, who moved it left to Mayhugh. Moving the penalty area, Mayhugh played a short ball towards the center that Pincince one-timed past the ‘keeper. Not only was it Pincince’s first international goal, but it came on Veteran’s Day for the former Marine.
Australia had its best chance just after the break, but U.S. goalkeeper Marc Estrella met the challenge, punching away a shot from Daniel Campbell, before quickly getting down low to his right to save the rebound by Kaylan Van Hear to retain the two-goal advantage.
The USA's confidence remained firm.
Lindau saw his curling free kick saved by Proctor, who also reacted quickly to deny Sullivan’s second-chance attempt from close range. Proctor also was alert to stop Pincince’s cheeky back heel on a near post run, then Lowery’s blast from 20 yards.
The U.S. then found its third and fourth goals a minute apart. Lowery challenged an errant backless to Proctor, who was way off his line to prevent the breakaway. However the ball fell to Crumbley, who with the outside of his right lifted a curling 35-yard ball over Proctor into the open net.
Sullivan then took a loose ball from the defensive area down the right side and sprung Mayhugh higher upfield, who took it into the area and sent a low cross to the back post for Crumbley to put away. These were Crumbley’s fourth and fifth international goals - and his second and third against Australia after also scoring on the Pararoos during a friendly in Sydney in 2023.
Chileshe Chitulangoma closed out the scoring with his first international goal when he got up high in front of goal to head home a corner from Lindau in the second minute of stoppage time.
The USA will play the Netherlands in both team’s second Group C match on Wednesday, November 13 (3:30 a.m. ET).
Match: United States Men’s CP National Team vs. Australia
Date: Nov. 11, 2024
Competition: 2024 IFCPF World Cup – Group C
Venue: Mediterranean Sports Village; Salou, Spain
Attendance: N/A
Kickoff: 3:30 a.m. local (9:30 a.m. ET)
Weather: 65 degrees, sunny
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| AUS | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| USA – Nick Mayhugh (Jacob Crumbley) | 23rd minute |
| USA – Wesley Pincince (Nick Mayhugh) | 25 |
| USA – Jacob Crumbley | 42 |
| USA – Jacob Crumbley (Nick Mayhugh) | 44 |
| USA - Chileshe Chitulangoma (Ben Lindau) | 60+2 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Marc Estrella, 2-Frankie Lowery (2-Chileshe Chitulangoma, 47), 3-Jacob Crumbley (7-Shea Hammond, 47), 4-Wesley Pincince, 5-John Sullivan, 10-Ben Lindau (Capt.), 11-Nick Mayhugh (9-Cameron DeLillo, 54, 14-Gavin Kohner, 60+1)
Substitutes not used: 6-Jacob Kaplan, 8-Michael Ruiz, 13-Kyle Montgomery
Head coach: Stuart Sharp
AUS: 7-David Barber (Capt.), 3-Kaylan Van Heer (2-Rafferty Bacon, 47), 4-Alessandro La Verghetta (6-Giacomo Izzo, 47), 5-Daniel Campbell (11-Jeremy Boyce, 54), 12-William McGrath (9-Luc Launder, 47), 13-Taj Lynch, 14-Augustine Murphy (10-Ben Roche, 54)
Substitutes not used: 1-Christian Tsangas, 8-Christian Bitsikas
Head coach: Kai Lammert
Stats Summary: USA / AUS
N/A
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Frankie Lowery (Caution) 29th minute
AUS – Luc Launder (Caution) 49
Officials:
Referee: Keith Stroud (ENG)
AR1: Luis Quero (ESP)
AR2: Antonio Berzosa (ESP)
Fourth Official: Paige Bell (USA)