:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47502327/GettyImages-481617822.0.jpg)
It is the last game of group stage of the 2015 U-17 World Cup for the USA U-17 Men's National Team, and the primary objective is to win. The team has a point from its opening two matches. Another point might be sufficient for the Americans sneak into the knockout round as one of the four best third-placed teams in the six World Cup groups - but that is a long shot and certainly far from ideal.
Today's opponent, Chile, finds itself in much the same boat as the USA: just a point from its first two games. Unlike, the US, Chile needs three points. It is conceivable that a team on two points will advance to the knockout rounds, but that team won't be the host nation: a draw would keep it below the USA in the group standings.
So the home team needs the win. And the Americans would certainly prefer one. We can reasonably hope for an open game, at least to start.
The two New York Red Bulls in the squad - Tyler Adams and Matthew Olosunde - have spelled each other to date in the tournament. Both are highly-rated: Adams will join the RBNY MLS squad in 2016 (confirmed by Ali Curtis on Seeing Red this week, and for the third time this season - Curtis likes to mention Adams' impending promotion); Olosunde had a trial with Manchester United earlier this year. The U-17s head coach, Richie Williams, doesn't appear to see a place for both of them in his lineup at the same time, but perhaps that will change as he seeks a selection capable of neutralizing Chile's attacking threat and finding a way to three points.