A stoppage time equalizer was the difference in Nashville on Monday night, with the United States Under-23 National Team failing to advance out of the group stage in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament. After Cuba came up with a stoppage time equalizer against Canada in the early game, Canada advanced in second-place. That left the United States facing a must-win scenario to advance to the semifinals.
Terrence Boyd had the USA on track to do just that, opening the scoring two minutes in with Brek Shea picking up the assist. El Salvador answered later in the half, equalizing in the 35th and going ahead two minutes later. With starting US goalkeeper Bill Hamid injured, Sean Johnson subbed on in the 39th minute.
Boyd scored his second goal in the 65th minute and the US went ahead through Joe Corona three minutes later. Deep into stoppage time, Jaime Alas scored to send El Salvador into the semifinals as Group A winner.
-- GAME REPORT --
Match: U.S. U-23 Men's National Team vs. El Salvador
Date: March 26, 2012
Competition: CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying - Group A
Venue: LP Field; Nashville, Tenn.
Kickoff: 8 p.m. CT
Attendance: 7,889
Weather: 65 degrees, clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 2 3
SLV 2 1 3
USA - Terrence Boyd (Brek Shea) 1st minute
SLV - Lester Blanco (Isidro Gutierrez) 35
SLV - Andres Flores (Jaime Alas) 37
USA - Terrence Boyd (Freddy Adu) 65
USA - Joe Corona (Freddy Adu) 68
SLV - Jaime Alas 90+4
Lineups:
USA: 1-Bill Hamid (18-Sean Johnson, 39); 3-Kofi Sarkodie, 2-Ike Opara, 4-Perry Kitchen,13-Jorge Villafaña; 16-Amobi Okugo, 8-Mix Diskerud, 10-Joe Corona (20-Michael Stephens, 88); 7-Freddy Adu (capt.) (14-Joe Gyau, 90+3), 15-Terrence Boyd, 11-Brek Shea
Subs not used: 5-Zarek Valentin, 6-Jared Jeffrey, 12-Teal Bunbury, 17-Tony Taylor, 19-Sheanon Williams
Head coach: Caleb Porter
SLV: 18-Yimy Cuellar; 5-Alexander Mendoza, 4-Xavier Garcia (capt.), 2-Milton Molina, 13-Alexander Larin; 9-Isidro Gutierrez, 8-Diego Chavarria (19-Darwin Ceren, 73), 16-Richard Menjivar, 10-Jaime Alas; 20-Andres Flores, 17-Lester Blanco (14-Herbert Sosa, 87)
Subs not used: 1-Diego Cuellar, 3-Marlon Martinez, 6-Elman Rivas, 7-Dustin Corea, 12-Edwin Sanchez, 15-Jorge Moran
Head coach: Mauricio Alfaro
Stats Summary: USA / SLV
Shots 9 / 10
Shots on Goal 5 / 5
Saves 2 / 2
Corner Kicks 4 / 5
Fouls 15 / 14
Offsides 1 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
SLV - Diego Chavarria (caution) 5th minute
SLV - Lester Blanco (caution) 7
USA - Amobi Okugo (caution) 7
USA - Jorge Villafaña (caution) 72
USA - Freddy Adu (caution) 74
SLV - Alexander Mendoza (caution) 87
USA - Terrence Boyd (caution) 90
Officials:
Referee: Roberto Garcia (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Rangel (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Dion Neil (TRI)
Fourth Official: Hector Gonzalez (HON)
Not sure why gyau didnt come in for shea
Huge error in judgement. Shea was gassed in the 30th minute. Gyau should have started the second half or come in in th 60th minute
We never had control of the midfield. The 4-3-3 idea was a total failure. And Porter never made an adjustment. We should’ve gone back to a 4-4-2 in the Canada game. Instead our coach looked like Maradona as a coach and didn’t know what to do.
brutal way to lose. Boyd basically punched in the face no foul called, 4 minutes of overtime given but it stretches to almost 6 minutes and they score in the final few seconds
Haters!! Give El Salvador some credit. They attacked with more players , they had a lot more technical players. The two flanks for El Salvador were dangerous all game.
The U.S didn’t lose they tied!! The tie was well deserved, both teams played a hell of a game. Canada eliminated the U.S, they never should have lost that game. By the way the salvadorean team didn’t have a full roster until 2 weeks before the tournament. Also, 2-3 players on the salvadorean team are American. Great youth system, keep recruiting 6 foot players.
I give El Salvador all the credit. They were the better team through out most of the game. That US back line had their hands full. The sting of letting that one slip away at the last possible moment was gut wrenching. The way they couldnt stay organized defensively to finish out that game…ugh…tough
This isn’t about El Salvador. Yes, they played better than US. But that’s the problem. The US had horrible coaching, goal keeping, defending and midfield play. The US is the only team in CONCACAF that had the talent to compete in the Olympics. Last night proved that CONCACAF will be totally embarrassed in London and now I’m glad the US will not be there because they would’ve been embarrassed too playing with that philosophy.
“The only team in Concacaf that had the talent to compete in the Olympics”? really? This is exactly why we’re in the situation we’re in… Arrogance. We underestimated our opponents. We ignored that soccer is growing in other parts of Concacaf not just here. We have been babied by getting the easiest groups here and in the gold cup and that hurt us. But Porter went ahead and guaranteed the win, why? Arrogance, he could not imagine that a little team would fight back, at the end of the day the team that wanted it most won. Talent only gets you so far, skill and hard work will get you further than talent alone. I’m pretty sure Mexico and who ever else makes it to the Qualifiers final, will do just fine in the Olympics and if not.. at least they made it to London, which is more than we can say.
I agree with Alex. Mexico is a quality team and the US seemed to not have the correct mindset going in. I could be wrong because Im not part of that team. I only see what they show on TV, but they seemed to go in a bit over confident. They say “we respect them, they are a quality team, it wont be easy” but do they mean it? I feel like they say it, but go in thinking in the end they will win. Yes, you have to believe in yourself to win, but show the fight and get on the pitch with a desire to stomp every opponent into the ground no matter their level of the game.