FRISCO, Texas (March 29, 2016) - The U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team fell short in its bid to reach the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio after a 2-1 defeat to Colombia in the Olympic Qualifying Playoff - 2nd Leg before 7,998 fans at Toyota Stadium on Tuesday night.
A pair of goals from Colombia's Roger Martinez either side a Deiver Machado own goal handed the South Americans an overall 3-2 aggregate win in the two-game playoff series. Colombia is awarded the last available berth to this summer's Olympic Games.
After going behind in the first half, U.S. hopes were reignited midway through the second when Emerson Hyndman's lofted ball was head backward by Machado into his goal, briefly tying the match a 1-1 in the 58th minute. Six minutes later, Martinez bagged the winner off a cross supplied by Machado.
The USA continued pushing for a second equalizer, but had its drive cut down when Luis Gil was sent off for what referee Ravshan Irmatov deemed a second bookable offense in the 77th minute. Defender Matt Miazga was later sent off for bringing down a Colombia attacker to deny a goal scoring opportunity when he was the last man back on defense for the U.S in the waning moments of the game.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
COL - Roger Martinez (Andreas Roa), 30th minute: Colombia attacked down the right side through Helibelton Palacios, who swung in a low cross that the U.S. defense was unable to clear. The ball fell to Roa who drill it back across the face of goal and onto the foot of a crashing Martinez, who volleyed it into the back of the net from close range at the right post. USA 0, COL 1
USA - Deiver Machado (own goal), 58th minute: U.S. midfielder Emerson Hyndman clipped in a ball toward the Colombia box looking for the run of Jerome Kiesewetter. The ball held up in the stiff breeze and Colombia center back Deiver Machado's attempt to head clear sailed backward toward his goal over the outstretched arms of net minder Cristian Bonila and into the back of the net. USA 1, COL 1
COL - Roger Martinez (Deiver Machado), 64th minute: Machado redeemed his earlier own goal by making an overlapping run down the left side of the field in order to swing in a cross that Martinez brought down near the penalty spot. Able to evade his marker with the trap, Martinez swiveled and fired a hard shot into the right side netting for the game winner. USA 1, COL 2 FINAL
Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
USA - Ethan Horvath, 6th minute - Colombia's Roger Martinez dispossessed U.S. defender Desevio Payne near midfield and raced toward the USA goal. Matt Miazga got across to force him wide, but Martinez was able to whip off a shot that U.S. goalkeeper Ethan Horvath did well to block by cutting down the angle and diving low to his left.
USA - Ethan Horvath, 18th minute - From a short corner, Colombia swung in a cross from the right side that Yerry Mina got a diving head to from just outside the six-yard box. His headed shot looked destined for the far side netting, but Horvath at full stretch made an athletic, diving save to keep the match scoreless early on.