Most of the current United States men’s national team Olympic players weren’t alive for the last time the USMNT advanced out of the group stage in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. On Tuesday the U.S. defeated Guinea 3-0 to book a place to the knockout stages in France.
Coming into Tuesday’s group stage finale the USMNT controlled their own destiny. Despite the 3-0 defeat to France in the opener, they bounced back with a massive 4-1 win against New Zealand to put them in a great position on the final day.
A two-goal victory would assure the USA a spot in the knockout stages regardless of the result between France and New Zealand who also played on Tuesday.
Djordje Mihailovic is one of the three overage players on the U.S. roster and arguably the most criticized with some supporters not impressed about his inclusion in the squad.
The Colorado Rapids star silenced his doubters in the 14th minute with an incredible free kick to open the scoring.
Djordje Mihailovic free kick vs Guinea
¡GOLAZOOOO! ¡GOLAZOOO DE TIRO LIBRE!
Djordje Mihailović cobra perfecto la pelota parada y ya lo gana Estados UnidosPeacock ➡️ https://t.co/VaqAtvA4FM
Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/QnXv7dz5ny#OlimpicosTelemundo #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/Mwv3E5ihrh— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 30, 2024
What a strike from the 25-year-old!
Despite the pressure on the Americans, they showed no sign of nerves with a flying start against Guinea. Striker Griffin Yow was given his first start and looked incredibly lively for the U.S. attack.
Yow won the free kick that Mihailovic scored.
Guinea hung around in the game with several dangerous attacks in the first half. The USMNT would strike again however in the 31st minute as Paxten Aaronson found Kevin Paredes with a lovely ball that the Wolfsburg youngster finished cooly.
¡OTRO GOLAZO DE ESTADOS UNIDOS! ⚽️
Kevin Paredes define de gran manera tras la salida del arqueo, ¡Baila en la celebración!Peacock ➡️ https://t.co/VaqAtvA4FM
Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/QnXv7dz5ny#OlimpicosTelemundo #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/FcdINIdx5S— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 30, 2024
In the second half the USMNT sat deeper to defend their lead. The momentum wasn’t in the USA’s favor as heavily as the first half, however Paredes would strike again in the 75th minute to put the result beyond doubt and book the USA’s place in the knockout stage.
¡DOBLETE DE KEVIN PAREDES! ⚽️⚽️
Espectacular remate dentro del área y marca su segundo en el encuentroPeacock ➡️ https://t.co/VaqAtvA4FM
Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/QnXv7dz5ny#OlimpicosTelemundo #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/1UaHoSlVhv— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 30, 2024
The 3-0 result ties the largest victory the USMNT have ever recorded at the Olympics. The two other times the USA won by three goals in men’s soccer at the Olympics was the last game against New Zealand (4-1) and a 3-0 triumph vs. Costa Rica during the 1984 Summer Games.
Up next for the USMNT will be a quarterfinal showdown with Morocco on Friday at 9 a.m. ET.
If the USA were to win that game, they would face the winner of Spain and Japan in the semifinal. They will also get to play for a medal if they win vs. Morocco.
The last time the USMNT won a medal in the Olympics was the 1904 Olympics when only three teams participated in the soccer tournament and two of the three teams represented the USA. They got silver and bronze.
Their best finish in the modern era was fourth during Sydney 2000 when they fell to Chile 2-0 in the bronze medal match.
