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Nimfasha Berchimas, the youngest player to represent the USA at the Under-17 Men’s World Cup since Freddy Adu 20 years earlier, burst onto the international scene Sunday in a fashion similar to Adu.

In 2003, Adu, 14, scored three goals to lead the USA to a 6-1 win over South Korea in the opening game of the U-17 World Cup in Finland.

On Sunday, Berchimas scored two goals and was involved in the third goal as the USA beat South Korea, 3-1, in its opening game of the U-17 World Cup in Indonesia.

South Korea could have scored four or five goals in the first half as U.S. players struggled to get the ball out of their half or maintain the ball when placed under pressure.

But it was the USA that opened the scoring in the seventh minute when German-based right back Aiden Harangi crossed the ball into the area and defender Kang Minwoo failed to clear the ball, allowing Berchimas to score.

South Korea hit the post twice on sensational plays before it was rewarded with the equalizer in the 37th minute when Kim Myeongjun scored on a rebound after U.S. keeper Adam Beaudry could only parry Yang Minhyeok’s shot.

Beaudry was often put under pressure from Korean incursions into the area and nine corner kicks, but he stood strongly under pressure. For all the problems the Koreans gave the USA in the first half, Coach Gonzalo Sagares‘ team never looked like it would collapse. In the second half, the USA took a more conservative approach, keeping numbers back, and it paid off. The U.S. defense was more composed on the ball and held its shape better.

The break came in the 49th minute when Harangi took a poor Korean clearance and played the ball quickly ahead to Taha Habroune, who found Berchimas in the penalty area. The winger beat one defender and fired a shot that Korean goalkeeper Hong Seongmin stopped with his leg. But the ball came to Cruz Medina, who easily scored on the rebound.

Berchimas clinched the win in the 73rd minute on a play that began when midfielder Pedro Soma fed him on the right wing. Berchimas cut across the penalty area, lost the ball briefly, then regained it and sent.his left-footed shot past Hong.

Nimfa story. Berchimas hails from Burundi. He lived in Atlanta before moving to High Point, North Carolina, where he played for NC Fusion before joining the Charlotte FC academy when the team entered MLS. He signed a Homegrown contract in late 2022 and played eight games with Crown Legacy FC in MLS Next Pro this season.

Berchimas (15 years, 267 days) became the fourth youngest player to score for the USA at the U-17 World Cup behind Adu (14 years, 76 days in 2003), Imad Baba (15 years, 91 days in 1989) and Jason Moore (15 years, 148 days in 1993).

The right winger did not take part in qualifying. He was playing with the USA’s U-15s and U-16s in 2022 and 2023 before being called up late in the preparations. The only other starter who was not part of the U.S. team that finished second to Mexico in Concacaf qualifying was German-based center back Noahkai Banks.

The other three Concacaf entrants all lost their opening games: Mexico (3-1 to Germany), Canada (2-0 to Spain) and Panama (2-0 to Morocco),

Next up: The USA will take on Burkina Faso on Wednesday (4 a.m. ET). Burkina Faso fell 3-0 to France in the opening Group E match. In the 24-team tournament, the top two teams in each of the six groups advance to the knockout stage. The four best third-place teams also advance.

Nov. 12 in Jakarta
USA 3 South Korea 1. Goals: Berchimas 7, 73, Medina 49; Kim Meyongjun 49.
USA — Beaudry; Harangi, Banks, Hall (Hawkins 86), Verhoeven; Soma, Habroune, Medina (Rudisill, 69); Berchimas (Jamison 78), Figueroa (Burton, 78), Vazquez (Miller, 69).
South Korea — Hong; Minwoo, You, Cha (Lim, 76), Yoon (Kim Hyunmin, 76),  Back, Kim Myeongjun (Baek, 71), Jin, Yang, Bae, Seo.
Yellow Cards: USA — Vazquez 45+1, Harangi 52, Burton 90+2, Banks 90+9; South Korea — Yun 11, Back 45+1.
Referee: Morten Krogh (Denmark).
Att.: 4,317.

Photo: Jenny Chuang/ISI Photos