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Real Salt Lake's Diego Luna didn't get a goal of his own this time, but he was directly responsible for three of the four United States goals in the Round of 16 match against New Zealand on Tuesday to send the team through to the quarterfinals of the U-20 World Cup in Argentina.
Luna started his third game of the tournament as the U.S. began play in the knockout stage after leaving the group stage without conceding a goal. The clean sheet streak continued on Tuesday as Chelsea-owned, Chicago Fire-loaned Gaga Slonina locked up the U.S. goal once again.
The first U.S. score came in the 14th minute as Luna laid the ball off to Austin FC youngster Owen Wolff just outside the box, and the 18-year-old son of former national team member and current Austin head coach Josh Wolff sent a slow-bouncing shot just past the keeper and into the bottom-left corner.
Luna, again, connected the final pass in the attacking third in the 61st minute, this time finding a streaking Cade Cowell barreling toward the box. Cowell took a left-footed shot that found its way into the bottom-right of the goal.
Luna assist No. ✌️ #RSLhttps://t.co/R4WaMrkFhM
— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) May 30, 2023
The final goal involvement came in the 75th minute as Luna got the ball on a breakaway and showed off his full array of skills, out-muscling the first defender and then finding Cowell again on the left side. Cowell sent the ball back to Luna in the box, but Luna's shot on goal was deflected and the ball fell to Justin Che, who slotted home the third goal.
A fourth goal came soon after Luna was subbed off and the result was all but sealed.
The U.S. takes on the winner of Thursday's match between Gambia and Uruguay in the quarterfinals on June 4.
