U.S. U23s Lose To Colombia, 2-1

The United States will not be represented this summer in men’s soccer at the  2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The U.S. U-23 team fell short of qualifying with a 2-1 loss to Colombia before 7,998 fans at Toyota  Stadium in Frisco, TX.

Colombia’s Roger Martinez scored two goals, one in each half. The U.S. goal was the result of an errant effort to clear a ball that was headed into the goal by Deiver Machado for a Colombia own goal.

They became chippy in the second half. A total of 11 cards were issued, five to Colombia and six to the U.S., which finished the game with nine players on the field after Luis Gil and Matt Miaza were sent off with red cards. While the result against Colombia was disappointing, that series would never had been nece3ssary had the U.S. defeated Honduras last fall in the semifinals of the CONCACAF qualifying championship. Honduras and Mexico have qualified for the Olympics.