THE PAST YEAR hasn't been overly kind to U.S. under-20 midfielder Paul Arriola. His playing time at Club Tijuana has decreased from where it was in 2014 and despite being a first-team regular at the beginning of this World Cup cycle, in recent months head coach Tab Ramos has utilized Arriola native primarily as a substitute.

So when he saw his name in the starting lineup for Tuesday's World Cup match against New Zealand, the Chula Vista, Calif., native was beyond eager.

“I wanted to show the world what I could do on the field," Arriola told American Soccer Now from New Zealand. "And what my team could do."

Done and done.

The 20-year-old scored the game’s best goal—a right-footed blast in the 58th minute that caromed off the far post and slid across the goal line. The strike gave the U.S. a three-goal cushion en route to a decisive 4-0 win. Arriola was energetic throughout the contest, taking several good shots and forcing saves. He also supplied the team with the sort of wide attacking option that was noticeably absent in the tournament's opening match.

But it was his defensive display that truly stood out.

“I wanted to shoot from all over the field whenever I had the chance,” Arriola said. “I was glad I was rewarded with a goal in the end but as much as I like to attack, I like to defend and I’ll defend for my life.

"There aren’t many teams that win their first two group stage games at World Cups. Tab told us that if we accomplish it, we could be in for something really good at this tournament. "

Arriola is one of the team’s most experienced U-20 players and he has been eager to work with the newcomers on the team. His ability to combine with right back Desevio Payne opened up space in the middle for Gedion Zelalem and Emerson Hyndman.

Arriola took it upon himself to discuss the game plan on the right side with Payne before the match and the pair executed it to near perfection. On the field, he was particularly impressed with Payne’s ability to communicate with the team despite playing in only one camp before the World Cup.

“Anytime a defender communicates to a midfielder, it just makes life so much easier,” Arriola said of Payne.  “Before the game, I specifically told him, 'All you need to do is tell me "left" or "right" and when the other team’s outside midfielder wants to tuck in, just tell me to punch in left and I’ll allow the space for you to move up on the right side.’ We had the perfect communication throughout the whole game.  I just felt great, not just with Desevio but with the whole team.”

Arriola's goal was a shining example of the team’s burgeoning chemistry. On the play, Arriola cut into the middle of the field to take advantage of the space created by Zelalem and Hyndman. Arriola read the play well and had just enough of an opening for a shot from the edge of the 18.

“Having two in the middle with Emerson and Gedion really helped out as well,” Arriola explained. “And then me being out wide, it really provided a lot of options to get out of tight spaces. Gedion is great in tight spaces and can dribble around guys. Against New Zealand you saw him dribble around to create space for himself or to find a passing lane.

"He’s a great player and for being so young, he’s super-smart and great on the ball. I thought he did a tremendous job.”

The Americans have already secured passage to the knockout stages and will now hope to build on their momentum in Friday’s clash with the Ukraine. A win or draw will result in a first place finish in Group A, and Arriola has made a strong case to see meaningful minutes in the days and weeks ahead.

A strong showing in New Zealand could give Arriola a welcome boost heading into preseason with Club Tijuana, which has a new head coach. It could also put him in the mix for the U.S. under-23 team, which will attempt to qualify for the Olympics in October.

Arriola is soaking up every bit of experience and advice he can—including some insights from American soccer icon Landon Donovan. The former U.S. national team great joined the U-20 side in New Zealand and offered up some words of wisdom ahead of the tournament. (Donovan should know a thing or two about competing in youth tournaments in New Zealand; in 1999 he was named the best player at the U-17 World Cup in the very same country.)

“Donovan has been awesome,” Arriola said. “He is such a humble person. He’s here to help and it’s great to see him working with us. I had a conversation with him about what he’d work on as an outside midfielder and what is the best thing for me to work on as a young player.

"We’re all really thankful for the help he’s given us.”

It wasn’t just advice either.

“For sure, he’ll play and get into the 5v2s, the possession games, things like that," Arriola said of Donovan. "He definitely still has it.”

Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.