The USMNT under-23 soccer team’s Olympic run came to an end on Friday, as they ran into a buzzsaw otherwise known as Morocco in the first of four quarterfinals, in Paris.
[ MORE: 2024 Paris Olympics soccer schedule & results ]
Morocco dominated possession and scoring chances from opening whistle to final whistle, barring a 10- or 15-minute period immediately after halftime when the USA looked like they might be able to battle back from 1-0 down. Alas, two quick goals in the 63rd and 70th minutes put that dream to bed and Morocco were strutting their stuff on each.
Sofiane Rahimi went two goals ahead in the Golden Boot race when he opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 27th minute. Ilias Akhomach made it 2-0 just after the hour mark, when the USMNT were creating a few chances and growing into the game at long last. Achraf Hakimi scored a stellar solo goal in the Parc des Prince, his home stadium as a PSG player, and El Mehdi Maouboub converted from the penalty spot after Nathan Harriel was whistled for a penalty inside the box for the second time in the game.
Morocco will face the winner of Japan vs Spain in the second semifinal on Friday.
USA men’s soccer vs Morocco final score: 0-4
Goalscorers: Sofiane Rahimi (27'), Ilias Akhomach (63'), Achraf Hakimi (70'), El Mehdi Maouboub (90'+1)
[ MORE: 2024 Paris Olympics soccer schedule & results ]
Below you’ll find lineups, video highlights, and live updates from the game at Stade de Marseille in Marseille, France.
Upon video review, Nathan Harriel was deemed to have illegally handled the ball in the penalty area. El Mehdi Maouboub stepped to the spot and converted to (hopefully) complete the rout.
Another fantastically worked sequence and goal from Morocco. Achraf Hakimi, PSG star, in his home stadium.
Achraf Hakimi scores in front of his home fans at the Parc Des Princes to make it 3-0. 🇲🇦🇫🇷#ParisOlympics | 📺 USA Network and Peacock pic.twitter.com/GMbw6Yjo8d
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 2, 2024
The USMNT switched off for a brief moment, and Morocco made them pay. Abdessamad Ezzalzouli danced down the sideline and cut back inside, fizzing a low cross to the near post where Ilias Akhomach made the late-arriving run and smashed it home.
TWO-NIL to Morocco. 👀
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 2, 2024
A simple finish for Ilias Akhomach after a well-worked move down the left wing. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/EsDX812evT
It was the first time that Morocco have been truly caught out, as Walker Zimmerman headed the ball down inside the penalty area toward the duo of Miles Robinson and Paxten Aaronson. Robinson got to it first and hooked his shot wide of the post from just inside the penalty spot.
Tanner Tessmann and Paxten Aaronson each got a shot off inside the first three minutes, and now the USMNT are having some success playing long balls out to the wings rather than trying to pass through Morocco’s forward and midfield lines. A sharp halftime adjustment from head coach Marko Mitrovic, but maybe something that should have been in the game plan from the start.
- Possession: 64-36
- Shots: 9-1
- On target: 0-4
Just the one shot from the USA men’s soccer team in the first half, and just 36 percent of possession with precious little of it in the final third.
They found lots of joy in transition against New Zealand and Guinea, quickly playing the ball forward and getting it upfield with just one or two passes after winning it back. Morocco’s counter-press has not only nullified that avenue of attacking for the USMNT, but frequently regained possession and set themselves up for scoring chances instead. Gianluca Busio’s absence really hurts here, as he is one of the most press-resistent midfielders in the entire USMNT player pool, let alone those under 23 years old.
The referee immediately blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot after Nathan Harriel, in his mind, made contact with Soufiane Rahimi as they each went for the ball. The VAR looked at the incident and upheld the decision.
Rahimi stepped to the spot and put Morocco ahead with his fifth goal of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
MOROCCO STRIKE FIRST.
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 2, 2024
Soufiane Rahimi converts from the penalty spot after a foul was called on USA defender Nathan Harriel. #ParisOlympics
📺 USA Network and Peacock pic.twitter.com/vQmz9Ub6F0
Morocco have a stranglehold on the game at the moment, as they camp out with the ball inside the USA’s defensive third and quickly launch a high press to win it back out of possession. The Americans’ only shot thus far came from 35 yards out and was blocked with 25 yards still to goal.
Quarter-mark stats (USA-Morocco):
Possession: 64-36
Shots: 1-3
On target: 0-2
The crowd roars to life when Morocco get on the ball and surge forward. A loud, deep “OOHHH” rains down as Villarreal’s Ilias Akhomach fires the first shot of the game, on target, forcing Patrick Schulte to tip it over the crossbar.
US keeper Patrick Schulte comes up with a big time save to keep it scoreless. 🧤#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/ZNKoiyJ1ET
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 2, 2024
USA in all white. Morocco in red and green.
The Americans have never won an Olympic medal. The Moroccans have never been out of the group stage. Lots of uncharted territory in this one.
Schulte - Harriel, Zimmerman, Robinson, Tolkin - Tessmann, McGlynn, Mihailovic - Paredes, Yow, Aaronson
Munir - Hakimi, El Azzouzi, Boukamir, El Ouahdi - Richardson, Targhalline, El Khannous - Akhomach, Ezzalzouli, Rahimi