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Atlanta United academy player Zyen Jones scored his first goal in the U-17 CONCACAF Championships against El Salvador to help the U.S. finish with a perfect record in the group stage.
1 goal, 2 flips from @Kingzyen ♂️.
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@ussoccer_ynt) April 29, 2017
Props to @bryanreynoldsjr on the perfectly weighted pass . pic.twitter.com/6rcyCymDlY
Jones’ celebration is obviously amazing. It’s unclear whether he’s been in touch with Kenwyne to share tips and techniques on performing the handspring flip. Dirty South Soccer will get to the bottom of this mystery.
Jones played primarily as a left-sided forward, and his poaching instincts were on display early in the second half as he snuck to the back post to slot home the only goal of the match. Jones was subbed off ten minutes later and replaced at LW by his Atlanta comrade, Andrew Carleton. The last member of the Atlanta trio on this U.S. roster, Chris Goslin, was also a second half sub and played 19 minutes.
The U.S. will move on to play in a 3-team group, from which the top two will qualify for the U-17 World Cup. USA has been grouped with Honduras and Cuba in the next group stage that starts next week.