USMNT Guinea Preview: Baby Yanks Want Quarterfinals

SAINT-ÉTIENNE, France – The U.S. Under-23 Olympic Men’s Soccer Team will look to secure a place in the knockout stage at the Paris Olympics when they face Guinea, tomorrow.

A victory would guarantee the U.S. passage to the quarterfinals provided New Zealand wins by fewer than three goals. That would be a mighty feat against host favorites France. Alternatively, a draw, combined with either a New Zealand draw or loss to France, would propel the Yanks into the knockout round.

The U.S. defeated Guinea, 3-0, this past March in Spain. Guinea lost 1-0 to France this past Saturday and also lost 2-1 to New Zealand.

Kickoff from Stade Geoffroy-Guichard is for Tuesday at 11 p.m. MT. The crucial matched will be broadcast lived on USA Network, Telemundo and Peacock.

The high-as-a-kite Yanks are coming down from of a massive 4-1 victory against New Zealand. The team was led by a standout performance by Colorado Rapids midfielder, Djordje Mihailović. 

The 25-year-old scored the first goal on a penalty kick that blinded New Zealand’s keeper Alex Paulsen. Mihajlović’s kick was the U.S. Men’s first at the Olympics in 5,827 days. On August 23, 2008, U.S. midfielder, Sacha Kljestan, scored on a penalty against Nigeria in the group stage at Beijing Olympics.

Minutes later he was involved in an indirect kick from the right flank. His ball bouncing super ball ultimately found teammate Walker Zimmerman who was rushing towards the mouth of the goal. The defenseman calmy punched the ball into the back of the net. 

Midfielder Gianluca Busio added another in the 30th to put the USA up 3-0 before the break. In the second half, forward Paxten Aaronson put in the final American goal.

U.S. OLYMPIC MEN’S SOCCER TEAM – ROSTER BY POSITION:

Goalkeepers (2): 1-Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 5/0; St. Charles, Mo.), 18-Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; 0/0; Addison, Ill.)

Defenders (6): 4-Maximilian Dietz (Greuther Furth/GER; 8/0; Frankfurt, Germany), 2-Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; 9/1; Oldsmar, Fla.), 12-Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 4/0; Arlington, Mass.), 5-John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; 9/0; Chatham, N.J.), 17-Caleb Wiley (Chelsea/ENG; 6/0; Atlanta, Ga.), 3-Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 6/1; Lawrenceville, Ga.)

Midfielders (5): 6-Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 8/2; Greensboro, N.C.), 15-Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; 6/1; Key Biscayne, Fla.), 16-Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; 9/0; Queens, N.Y.), 14-Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids; 11/1; Jacksonville, Fla.), 8-Tanner Tessmann (Venezia/ITA; 12/0; Birmingham, Ala.)

Forwards (5): 11-Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht/NED; 7/2; Medford, NJ), 10-Taylor Booth (FC Utrecht/NED; 6/0; Eden, Utah), 13-Duncan McGuire (Orlando City SC; 7/1; Omaha, Neb.), 7-Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; 4/0; South Riding, Va.), 9- Griffin Yow (KVC Westerlo/BEL; 5/1; Clifton, Va.)

Alternates (4): Josh Atencio (Midfielder, Seattle Sounders FC; 0/0; Bellevue, Wash.), Jacob Davis (Defender, Sporting Kansas City; 0/0; Rochester, Mich.), Johan Gomez (Forward, Eintracht Braunschweig/GER; 7/2; Keller, Texas), John Pulskamp (Goalkeeper, Sporting Kansas City; 3/0; Bakersfield, Calif.)

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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