Led by its devastating wingers, the U.S. Males’s Olympic staff formally booked a ticket to the knockout phases of an Olympic match for the primary time in 24 years.
Kevin Paredes scored twice whereas Djordje Mihailovic additionally added a sensational free kick aim in a 3-0 group stage finale victory over Guinea. The consequence now units the People up for a quarterfinal conflict with Morocco on Friday.
Head coach Marko Mitrović deviated barely from his beginning XI within the first two matches with the pressured change of Maximilian Dietz in for the injured Gianluca Busio in midfield. Griffin Yow additionally acquired the nod over striker Duncan McGuire within the entrance line.
Tactically, Dietz performed the only pivot, pushing Tanner Tessmann into the No. 8 function the place he thrived as a lot as he has in his defensive midfield place. Yow took up the left-winger place with Paxten Aaronson transferring inside right into a false-nine function.
Inside 13 minutes of kickoff, Yow had his lone shot saved spectacularly whereas additionally helping on two saved pictures, and drawing two fouls. Suffice it to say, he was energetic.
The second drawn foul got here only a few yards exterior the field and started the U.S. celebration.
Set-piece specialist, Mihailovic, expertly positioned his shot into the highest nook with top-of-the-line free-kicks you’ll ever see. Imagining a small cardboard field taped onto the intersection of the put up and crossbar, the ball would’ve nestled in properly. It’s no shock some are starting to name him the American James Ward-Prowse.
Then, it was Yow’s reverse winger Paredes taking up the match, drawing two fouls and helping two saved pictures — together with one requiring one other huge save on Yow’s subsequent volley — earlier than lastly hitting the again of the online himself on a superbly labored counterattack from the U.S.
The winger pair would proceed to wreak havoc on Guinea’s protection all through the primary half and take the 2-0 lead into halftime.
Among the many second-half USMNT substitutes was midfielder Jack McGlynn, who made his influence identified by creating a number of capturing alternatives for the U.S. Finally, McGlynn discovered the help he deserved, organising Paredes’ brace with a chic pinged crossfield move. The Wolfsburg winger took the move down with a luxurious outside-of-the-boot management, minimize inside, and blasted residence his second aim of the sport.
Guinea would proceed pushing for a comfort aim because the USMNT noticed out the clear sheet for his or her first-ever Olympic victory over an African opponent.
Maybe that report can function an excellent omen for the staff as they enter the knockout rounds towards Morocco, one other African opponent. The match is slated for 9 am E.T. on the historic Parc des Princes.