U.S. Men’s Soccer Once Again Fails to Qualify for Summer Olympics

Image via Zimbio

American men’s soccer suffered a crushing blow just hours after USMNT got their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track with a 4-0 win over Guatemala. For the second straight Olympics the U.S. will not field a men’s team in the Games.

On Tuesday’s evening match in Frisco, Texas, Team USA fell to Colombia 2-1. That loss combined with the 1-1 draw they played to in Barranquilla last Friday gave Colombia a 3-2 aggregate edge in the two-game series.

Despite being wholly overmatched and down 0-1 in the first half, the energized Americans battled back in the second half. Their aggressiveness paid off in the 57th minute by forcing an own goal off the head of Deiver Machado, knotting the match at one all.

Unfortunately their luck ran out just eight minutes later. The Olympic dream of Team USA was snuffed out by Roger Martinez in the 64th minute of the match. Martinez faked out defender Tim Parker and found the net behind goalkeeper Ethan Horvath for the second time in the game.

Soon after the American’s frustration boiled over. Luis Gil and Matt Miazga were both ejected in the waning minutes.

Gil received yellow card in the 72nd minute for shoving Helibelton Palacios during a confrontation in the U.S. end. He earned another one in the 77th minute and was booted. Miazga was tossed in the 90th minute after receiving a red card for pulling down Christian Borga on an scoring opportunity.