2024 Summer Olympics Recap: USA 3 - Guinea 0
The US book their ticket to the knockout stage for the first time since 2000 following a shutout victory!
Marko Mitrović and the United States Men’s Olympic Team returned to action Tuesday afternoon as they looked to punch their ticket to the knockout stage when they squared off against Guinea inside Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
The U.S. came into Tuesday’s match in second place in Group A with three points following a 4-0 loss to host nation France and a 4-1 win over New Zealand.
Mitrović made two changes from the lineup that secured victory over New Zealand. Patrick Schulte got the nod in net behind the back line of John Tolkin, Walker Zimmerman, Miles Robinson, and Nathan Harriel. Maximilian Dietz, Tanner Tessmann, and Djordje Milhailovic started in midfield behind the attacking trio of Griffin Yow, Paxton Aaronson, and Kevin Paredes.
A foul on Yow outside the box in the 13th minute paid dividends for the U.S. just a minute later. Mihailovic stood over the ball for the ensuing freekick and proceeded to slot a ball perfectly into the upper-left corner and in to give the U.S. an early 1-0 lead.
Yow’s vision led to the U.S. doubling its lead just a minute later. As the U.S. quickly pulled off the counterattack, Yow drilled a ball upfield from midfield into the path of a darting Kevin Paredes on the right flank. Paredes got onto the ball and evaded pressure before slotting it past Sylla to make it 2-0.
Mitrović's first changes came in the 52nd minute when Jack McGlynn and Josh Atencio replaced Yow and Dietz. Another two changes came in the 66th minute when Taylor Booth and Duncan McGuire entered the match.
Paredes’ footwork tripled the U.S. lead as he notched his second goal of the evening in the 75th minute. After receiving McGlynn’s cross on the right flank, Paredes took a diagonal touch backward before unleashing a shot to the upper-right corner to give the United States a 3-0 lead,
Aliou Balde came close to closing the gap in stoppage time when he drove down the left flank and proceeded to maneuver his way into the box. Walker Zimmerman wasn’t having it as he stuck a foot in to tap the ball out before Balde could generate.
Cherif Camara also nearly wiped the USA’s clean sheet off the board in stoppage time when he sent a close-ranged header to the upper half of the net, but Schulte was there to make the save to keep Guinea off the board.
Following Tuesday’s win, the US men see themselves in the knockout stage of the Olympics for the first time since 2000.
Marko Mitrović’ and the US will begin their conquest for gold on Friday, August 2 when they face Morocco inside Parc de Princes at 9:00 am ET.