If there is one cliché international football that always seems to be true it is that if a team needs goals, they should look for an attacker who plays football in the Netherlands. Thankfully for the United States udner-20 Men’s National Team they have such a player in Rubio Rubin. The Utrecht number nine’s two goals were enough to not only lift the United States (2-0-0, 6 points) past New Zealand 4-0 in their second match of the 2015 U-20 World Cup but gave them the points necessary to advance out of the group stage for the first time since 2007.

Despite New Zealand having the home-field advantage (this year’s U-20 World Cup is taking place in the Kiwi nation) the United States dominated all aspects of this match. Their one area of concern entering this second match of Group A, starting slowly, was quickly erased when in just the sixth minute Rubin would help them gain the early advantage.

As it always seems to be with U.S. Soccer no matter the age level, set pieces would serve as the icebreaker with Rubin finishing off a cross laid in by forward Bradford Jamieson IV. The Los Angeles Galaxy man set up Rubin after having received  a pass from midfielder Emerson Hyndman on a corner. Jamieson IV’s cross almost went into the goal without any assistance, but Rubin provided the finishing touch to assure the goal and the 1-0 lead.

After help setting up the first goal, Hyndman would get his own in the 35^th minute. After trapping a Rubin deflected shot outside the penalty box, Hyndman would strafe right and deliver a cracking shot past New Zealand goalkeeper Oliver Sali. The goal was Hyndman’s second of the tournament, making him the first U.S. U-20 player to score in consecutive matches at a World Cup since Jozy Altidore in 2007.

The goal-scoring barrage continued into the second half. U.S.A. coach Tab Ramos set up a 4-4-2 for this match with Hyndman paired up with Arsenal prospect Gedion Zelalem as the center midfielders and Marky Delgado and Paul Arriola as the outside midfielders. This attack-minded lineup paid off with Hyndman and Zelalem feeding Delgado and Arriola with balls in space on the outside that only players with their pace can catch up to.

This was the approach that led to the U.S.A’s third goal of the match where Zelalem pushed the Kiwi defense down the middle, then provided the quick pass out to the right for Arriola. The Tijuana midfielder did not waste his opportunity, hammering his shot past Sali to give the U.S.A. the 3-0 lead.

It did not help the Kiwi defense that their forwards were unable to procure even a handful of goal-scoring opportunities. Aside from a lone blast by Noah Billingsley in the 81^st minute, New Zealand struggled to get past the U.S.A. back four of Cameron-Carter Vickers, Matt Miazga, Desevio Payne, and Kellyn Acosta. The U.S.A.’s ability to box out attackers and provide timely clears allowed for goalkeeper Zach Steffen to record his seventh career shutout.

To finish off New Zealand in the 83^rd minute it would Rubin once again. After receiving a pass from Payne inside the penalty box, Rubin darted past the Kiwi defense and hit a shot with a little English past Sali for the U.S.A.’s fourth goal of the match.

With the victory the United States secured their first trip to the second round of the U-20 World Cup since 2007. They still have work to do against the Ukraine on Friday (3am Fox Sports 1). If the United States can get a win or a draw then they will be the winners of Group A.

For New Zealand, this loss does not necessarily knock them out of the competition. A win against Myanmar and some help from the United States gives them an outside chance of the second-place spot in Group A. They could also qualify for the knockout round by being one of the four top third-place teams from group play.