USA Thrash New Zealand 6-0 to Reach Quarter-Finals of U-20 FIFA World Cup 2017

The United States cruised into the quarter-finals of the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup as they thrashed New Zealand 6-0 in their last-16 encounter at the Incheon Stadium, South Korea, on Thursday. 

A tight first half finished with the Stars and Stripes 1-0 ahead after Josh Sargent netted the opener—his fourth goal of the tournament—in the 32nd minute.

After the break, though, New Zealand were blow away as Jeremy Ebobisse, Brooks Lennon, Justen Glad, Auston Trusty and Lagos Kunga all scored in the last 30 minutes.

Per U.S. Soccer YNT, it was a record victory in the tournament, and head coach Tab Ramos' side will now face Venezuela in the last eight on Sunday:

Both nations provided their lineups ahead of kick-off:

A highly entertaining first half involved chances for both sides, but only the U.S. were able to find the net when Glad's effort deflected in off Sargent.

It remained a tight contest early in the second half, but in the 64th minute, Ebobisse took the ball out of the air with true class on the edge of the area, before turning and hammering a finish home to make it 2-0.

Lennon netted just a minute later to leave the Kiwis with a mountain to climb to make the quarter-finals.

New Zealand remained on the back foot, and Glad got his goal in the 76th minute, sending a bullet header into the back of the net via the goalkeeper.

Substitute Trusty made it 5-0 six minutes from time, curling a superb left-footed finish into the far corner from the edge of the area. 

And Kunga ended the rout with almost the last kick of the game to put the United States through in emphatic fashion.