SAINT-ETIENNE, France — After three group stage matches away from the main stage of these Summer Games, the U.S. men's Olympic team is finally headed to Paris.
What awaits them there? A long-awaited opportunity: the first Olympic qualifying match for a U.S. men's team in 24 years.
That was the reward for the United States after a solid and brilliant performance on a hot Tuesday night. Seizing the momentum ahead of them, the group of (mostly) young Americans started fast and held on to a 3-0 victory over Guinea at Geoffrey Guichard Stadium.
The victory cemented second place in Group A for the United States and set the stage for a quarterfinal match with Morocco on Friday at the Parc des Princes, home of Paris Saint-Germain.
Djordje Mihailovic, one of three over-age players allowed on each team in the U-23 tournament, opened the scoring for the United States with a stunning free kick that sailed past Guinea's wall before slotting in at the side of the net in the 14th minute.
It was Mihailovic's second goal in two games, and even the cheering Guinean fans (who held firm for most of the 90 minutes) gave a grudging shrug of approval as he bowed.
“We knew if we came out strong from the first minute and scored the first goal, we'd be in a really good position,” said defender Walker Zimmerman, “and that's what happened with a great free kick from Djordje that set the tone again.”
Mihailovic has been a fixture for U.S. coach Marko Mitrovic throughout the tournament, but one of the changes the coach made before the game was to insert Griffin Yow up front with Paxten Aaronson and Kevin Paredes, a move that, on paper, seemed to promise movement and activity.
They kept their promise. The trio were dynamic from the start, exchanging balls back and forth and never hesitating to test Guinean goalkeeper Soumalia Sylla.
Paredes, who is among the candidates to be the most consistent player for the United States at this tournament, made a sharp cut for Tanner Tessmann, but the midfielder saved his first shot. Paredes tried again with a cross that Yow also caught in the air, but the ball bounced off the base of the post. Still, another goal seemed inevitable.
The Americans finally got their second goal just after the half-hour mark, and it was Paredes who scored instead of trying to assist someone else.
Aaronson picked up the ball in midfield and, after a few side steps, sent a perfect pass through the Guinean defence and straight into the path of Paredes. As Sylla came out to try and reduce the angle, Paredes did not hesitate and fired low and powerfully under the goalkeeper before going out to celebrate at the corner flag with a series of dance moves.
“I've played with and against Paxton since I was very young, so we know each other well,” Paredes said. “We know each other's qualities and yes, he put me in a great position to score. I just had to do the easy part to get the ball in the net.”
Paredes capped the scoring with yet another brutal goal, unleashing a thunderous shot off a dribble to the right side of the box with 15 minutes remaining. The goal made him the first American to score multiple goals in an Olympic game since Ricky Davis in 1984.
“I think this tournament could be a [breakout] “It's a great achievement for him in his career,” Mitrovic said of Paredes. “He has a lot of qualities and always tries to be effective, but he is maturing more in the final third and that is great for his future as a player.”
By the time Paredes finished scoring, the Guineans looked practically exhausted from the heat, and at the final whistle they collapsed while the American players celebrated on the field.
The Americans have had a steady buildup to this tournament, starting with a disappointing 3-0 loss to France in the opening match (the result not reflecting what they felt was a better effort) but bouncing back with a standout performance against New Zealand, a 4-1 win that put them in position to advance if they could maintain their form.
They did it. No U.S. men's team has ever won a medal in the modern Olympic era, and that historic fact has motivated the Americans since they began training camp.
Now the chase continues. Paris awaits us.
