Seven minutes into the USA's first game of the 2017 U-20 World Cup, it seemed the young Americans were in for a long evening: Ecuador had twice cut open the back line and scored.
The USA seemed undone mostly by its own misfortune with injuries - Tottenham Hotspur prospect Cameron Carter-Vickers on the bench instead of in the lineup was not the best news for the American defense - and head coach Tab Ramos' fanciful tactical musings. Ramos opted for an unorthodox plan, setting play-maker Gedion Zelalem deep in the midfield and selecting U-17 captain Josh Sargent up front ahead of more experienced options.