2005세계청소년축구선수권대회에서 미국이 "우승후보" 아르헨티나를 꺾는 이변을 연출했다. 

미국은 12일(한국시간) 네덜란드 엔스케데의 헤트 디크만 경기장에서 열린 대회 D조 조별리그 1차전에서 전반 39분에 터진 채드 바렛의 선제골을 잘 지켜 "대어" 아르헨티나를 1-0으로 꺾었다. 

이날 승리로 1승을 먼저 올린 미국은 한국이 포함된 F조와 함께 "죽음의 조"로 불리는 D조 예선통과를 향한 유리한 고지를 점령했다. 

브라질과 함께 대회 최다우승국(4회)인 아르헨티나가 첫판부터 미국에 발목을 잡힐 것이라고 예상한 사람은 많지 않았다. 

이변의 서막은 아르헨티나가 "천재 미드필더" 리오넬 메시(FC 바르셀로나)를 전술상의 이유로 선발 명단에서 제외하면서부터. 

아르헨티나는 메시 대신 지난 3월 수원컵에서 미국을 2-1로 물리친 주역 에밀리아노 아르멘테로스를 기용해 공격 전개를 맡겼지만 기대만큼 상대를 압도하지는 못했다. 

오히려 먼저 포문을 연 쪽은 미국. 

전반 39분 마벨 와인이 상대 진영 깊숙이 오버래핑한 뒤 문전으로 올려준 크로스가 그렉 달비의 몸에 맞고 튀어나왔고, 바렛이 이 볼을 머리로 받아넣어 손쉽게 선제골을 뽑았다. 

아르헨티나는 후반 들어 메시를 투입해 빠른 속도로 반격을 펼쳤으나 무위에 그치며 0-1로 무릎을 꿇었다. 

경기를 마친 뒤 프란시스코 페란도 아르헨티나 감독은 "후반 들어 다소 나아지기는 했지만 우리가 할 수 있는 수준에는 미치지 못했다"고 실망을 감추지 못한 반면, 지기 슈미트 미국 감독은 "우리 팀이 자랑스럽다. 이것은 엄청난 성과"라며 기쁨을 만끽했다. 

B조의 중국은 지난해 유럽청소년선수권 준우승팀인 강호 터키를 2-1로 꺾고 역시 이변의 주인공이 됐다. 

전반 22분 탄 왕숭의 선제 중거리포로 기선을 제압한 중국은 후반 84분 고칸 굴렉(터키)에게 동점골을 허용했으나, 인저리타임 종료 1분을 남기고 얻은 코너킥 찬스에서 상대 골키퍼가 처낸 볼을 교체멤버 자오수리가 그림같은 발리슛으로 골문을 갈라 극적인 승리를 거뒀다. 

그러나 아르헨티나와 터키를 제외한 나머지 강호들은 서전을 승리로 장식하며 순항했다. 

지난 대회 준우승팀 스페인은 모로코를 3-1로 제압했고, 독일도 이집트를 2-0으로 물리쳤으며 칠레는 신나는 골 세례를 퍼부으며 온두라스를 7-0으로 대파했다. 

◇12일 전적 
▲B조 중국(1승) 2-1 터키(1패)우크라이나(1승) 3-1 파나마(1패) 
▲C조스페인(1승) 3-1 모로코(1패)칠레(1승) 7-0 온두라스(1패) 
▲D조미국(1승) 1-0 아르헨티나(1패)독일(1승) 2-0 이집트(1패) 

연합뉴스 2005.06.12 

Barrett comes up big as USA edge Argentina (0:1) 
(FIFA.com) 11 Jun 2005 
  
Goals Scored: BARRETT Chad (USA) 39' 
 
The Americans celebrate what turned out to be the winning goal against Argentina. (ACTION IMAGES) Alex Morton 
   
The first upset of the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005 has come from the USA, who beat favourites Argentina 1-0 in their opening game thanks to a goal from Chad Barrett. In the second half the Argentinians piled on the pressure, but only occasionally did the US defence look like cracking.  
  
"I am proud of my team. This is a great achievement," said US coach Sigi Schmid after the game. "This victory takes us an important step forward. We had some luck at the right time when the Argentinians stepped things up in the second half." 
  
The South Americans provided the first surprise even before the kick-off when the team coached by Francisco Ferraro took the field without Lionel Messi of Barcelona, a gambit that the US coaching staff had not anticipated, as Schmid freely admitted later at the press conference. The Americans began with the same line-up as during the 2-0 victory over China in a warm-up match six days earlier. 
  
After a nervous start for both teams it was the Americans who were the first to take control of the game, and Argentine goalkeeper Oscar Ustari had to look sharp to keep out two shots from striker Chad Barrett of MLS side Chicago Fire. The first chance for the Albiceleste came on the quarter-hour with a lob from Gustavo Oberman. 
  
Emiliano Armenteros, one of three players on the field who were also in the Argentina side that lost 2-1 to the USA in Suwon, South Korea, last March, then masterfully laid on another chance for Oberman, but he could only rattle the post. Now the Argentinians began to get into the rhythm and US goalkeeper Quentin Westberg had to show all his ability to save a deflected shot from Fernando Gagos. 
  
Barrett bags the winner 
Then, back up the other end, Sammy Ochoa failed to strike the ball cleanly when given a shooting chance at the end of a slick move begun by Freddy Adu and continued by Barrett. As the game became somewhat disjointed, US defender Jonathan Spector of Manchester United had to go off with an injury, but his teammates kept their composure and just seconds later took the lead. In the 40th minute, a cross from Marvell Wynne was deflected by captain Greg Dalby as far as Barrett, who reacted fastest to nod the ball home.  
  
The USA team held off the Argentine challenge to win 1-0. (ACTION IMAGES) Alex Morton 
  
Argentina brought on Messi for Armeneros at half time in a bid to bring more attacking pressure to bear. However, when Oberman served up a first opportunity for Messi, he failed to connect when well placed.  
  
 Nevertheless, the USA continued to look more fluent in their build-up. With an hour gone, good spadework from Eddie Gaven gave Barrett a chance for a shot on the turn from 15 metres which he sent narrowly wide. At the other end, Messi shot sharply, but Westberg was on his guard and made a superb parrying save. Following up, Oberman failed to convert from the left-hand corner of the penalty area. 
  
Argentine pressure in the closing stages 
In the 72nd minute, Adu could have wrapped it all up with a penalty after he himself had been fouled, but the 16-year-old drove his spot kick against the post. The lightning-fast Messi and Oberman then upped the tempo even further as the match entered its closing stages. Messi's header was saved by the watchful Westberg, while Pablo Vitti's shot went agonisingly past the post. 

Barrett, who had been one of the most outstanding players for his side, had to leave the field with an injury 10 minutes from time, but the Americans saw out the remaining minutes without great difficulty. The victory has now given them a great chance of clinching qualification for the next round. 

Argentina coach Ferraro said after the game: "We didn't play well in the first half, and that's when the Americans earned their win. We got better in the second half, but even then we were below the level my team is capable of." 

Messi, who was brought on only at half time for tactical reasons, said: "It was a very difficult game for us. I am not disappointed that I did not play in the first half. I am part of a team, and I have good teammates."