https://www.futbolmundial.com/ A promising run through France ended for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Soccer Team at the Parc des Princes, where it fell to a talented Moroccan squad 4-0 in Friday’s quarterfinal.
The Americans’ first Olympic appearance since 2008 featured two group-stage victories and first knockout round berth in 24 years, but Morocco is enjoying a footballing renaissance of its own. Fueled by a partisan crowd and marshaled by 2022 World Cup linchpin and Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi, the Atlas Lions, who won Group A over Argentina, were too strong on Friday.
Morocco pressured the U.S. throughout the first half and went head on a Soufiane Rahimi penalty kick. The USA then enjoyed its best spell early in the second half, but the North Africans snuffed out any hopes of a comeback with Ilias Akhomach’s goal in the 63rd and then Hakimi’s solo effort in the 70th. A stoppage-time penalty kick from El Mehdi Maouhoub capped the scoring for the Atlas Lions.
Morocco, the U-23 African champions, advanced to an Olympic semifinal for the first time and will meet either Spain or Japan on Aug. 5. The U.S. finished the competition with a 2W-2L-0D record. Although this U.S. side won’t match the fourth-place finish achieved by the 2000 team in Sydney, this summer marks the first time the U.S. Men won two games at any Olympic tournament.
Morocco pressured the U.S. throughout the first half and went head on a Soufiane Rahimi penalty kick
U.S. head coach Marko Mitrović made just one change Friday from the lineup that clinched the quarterfinal berth with a 3-0 win over Guinea on July 30. Jack McGlynn, in his first Olympic start, replaced Maximilian Dietz in the U.S. midfield. Both McGlynn and Dietz were filling the role vacated by the injured Gianluca Busio. Up front, Griffin Yow earned his second-straight start after two matches of reserve duty. The remaining nine Americans were kicking off their fourth game in 10 days.
The U.S. would need to lean on that chemistry and familiarity in the cauldron of the Parc des Princes, which was buzzing with Morocco supporters. The nations are close both culturally and geographically. Three Atlas Lions were born in France and six play their club football there, including Hakimi. The 25-year-old right back was a key figure in Morocco’s historic run to the 2022 World Cup semifinals. As one of three allotted overage players on the Olympic side, the captain has been instrumental this summer as well.
Playing on his home ground, Hakimi helped create Morocco’s first good scoring chance with a 13th-minute delivery into the U.S. penalty area. His cross was touched back to Akhomach, and the Villarreal forward lashed a shot toward the upper right corner that U.S. goalkeeper Patrick Schulte was able to knock away. That chance, however, set the tone for the first half, as Morocco’s quick passing and fluid movement forced the Americans into a more defensive posture.
The Lions took a deserved lead as the game approached the half-hour mark. Their sustained pressure resulted in a bit of good fortune as U.S. right back Nathan Harriel inadvertently kicked Rahimi while swinging for a bouncing ball in the penalty area. Referee Yael Falcón pointed to the spot, and Rahimi dispatched the ensuing penalty kick to Schulte’s right for his tournament-leading fifth goal. The 28-year-old Al Ain striker, who sparked the Emirati club’s 2023-24 Asian Champions League title run, has found the net in each of Morocco’s four Olympic matches.
Halftime offered the chance for the Americans to catch their breath and they began the second half with more patience and composure in possession. The USA attempted three shots (one on target) in the first 10 minutes of the period; it managed one in the first 45. The first big U.S. chance then came in the 59th, as some good side-to-side movement led to a Walker Zimmerman header that reached fellow center back Miles Robinson near the penalty spot, but the FC Cincinnati man spun his first-time bid wide.
Morocco snatched the momentum back and then pulled away with goals in the 63rd and 70th minutes. The U.S. inevitably was stretched as it looked for the equalizer and the Atlas Lions took advantage. First, Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli was able to race down the U.S. right, turn the corner and feed Akhomach at the near post. Hakimi did the damage seven minutes later, finding space in the U.S. half before sneaking a low shot past a diving Schulte and inside the right post. Morocco’s final goal, like its first, came from the penalty spot. Reserve forward El Mehdi Maouhoub did the honors in stoppage time.
