Girona, Spain (March 22, 2024) – The U.S. men's Olympic soccer team, continuing its preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics, defeated Guinea 3-0 in the first international match in March. Forward Griffin Yeo scored the first two goals for the United States, while defender Nathan Harriel, midfielder Gianluca Busio and forward Johan Gomez scored the third goal.
This was the first game for the United States since the draw for the 2024 Olympic Men's Soccer Tournament was held on March 20. The U.S. men's U-23 national team will be competing in the Olympics for the first time since 2008. The United States may play against them. Guinea will play the third match of the Olympic group stage. national elephant They won the intercontinental playoff against the 4th place Asian qualifier.
The United States will then visit the Olympic host nation and its opening game opponent for the 2024 Paris Olympics in Montbéliard on Monday, March 25 at 3:00 p.m. ET (U.S. Soccer website and app).
Yoh, who was called up to the national team for the first time since appearing for the United States at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup following his breakthrough with KVC Westerlo in Belgium, enjoyed an eventful afternoon intimidating the Guinea defense. He had two assists, and Gomez's goal came on the rebound of his first shot, as well as one that bounced off the post.
The match was a close battle from the opening whistle, with Guinea playing in high spirits.of national elephant They threatened to take the lead in the 7th minute with consecutive corner kicks, but the Africans managed a glancing header that went just wide of the goal.
The Americans had an immediate answer when Hariel scored the first goal of the Olympic cycle just two minutes later. Busio sent a nice long ball from the right to Yow on the left, where he crossed to the Philadelphia Union outside back. Hariel then jumped in and scored a perfect header to give the Americans an early lead.
In the afternoon, the USA possessed the ball and pressed successfully, giving Guinea a hard time retaining possession. Some nice line-breaking passes were effective in eluding the U.S. offense, especially wingers Yu and Esmil Vajraktarevic.
Guinea also tried to press aggressively and gave a good impression to the African players throughout the match. In the 35th inning, he stole the ball from the USA's build-up deep in their own half and fired a shot that went just over the top of the box.
In a frantic final few minutes of the first half, You continued to threaten the Guinea defense with a shot from the top of the box that bounced off the post. Guinea responded with a dangerous possession and a corner kick, both handled by goalkeeper Chris Brady, and the Americans responded strongly again, capping off their 45 points in the first half with a goal. Pressuring the Guinean defense, You won the ball and passed it to Busio, who charged forward and doubled the American advantage with a shot past goalkeeper Sandari Conde.
The U.S. picked up where they left off in the second half. Wylie built up from the back, played all the way to the left, dribbled past three Guinea defenders and fired home at the near post. Conde made a save, but Gomez pushed in the rebound to make it 3-0. A few minutes later, the Americans threatened again on a series of restarts, as midfielder Jack McGlynn fired a long-range shot just over the bar.
Guinea continued to play tenaciously in the second half looking for a goal, but the Americans and Brady withstood the effort. Head coach Marko Mitrović made 10 changes, with all 20 field players on the roster getting playing time.
Goal score summary
USA – Nathan Harriel (Griffin Yeo), 9 minutes: Busio, playing from the back, received the ball well behind the half-line on the right and sent a bouncing ball across the field to You on the left wing. The winger took a few touches before lofting a cross into the box where Hariel ran from left to right inside the six-yard box, pounced on and headed the ball inside the far post. US 1, GUI 0
USA – Gianluca Busio (Griffin Yeo), 45+1 minutes: When Guinea controlled the U.S. long ball in its own half, Yow quickly pressured the ball back, driving away African defenders. He touched the ball to Busio a few yards inside and the two ran towards the goal past the two Guineans. As the goalkeeper came to stop him, the Venetian midfielder fired a powerful spinning shot into the right side of the net, scoring his second goal of the match. US 2, GUI 0
USA – Johan Gomez, 51 minutes: Caleb Wylie once again patiently built up from the back and received the ball on the left flank before playing into the yaw of a continuous attack. The winger made his move by beating an opponent on the ball, causing the defender to lose his footing, and then passed two more defenders and headed towards goal. He fired a shot at the near post from 18 yards in front of the box, but it was stopped by Guinea goalkeeper Sandari Conde. Gomez was waiting a few yards away and pounced on the rebound from short range. US 3, GUI 0
~Olympic U.S. men's soccer team match report~
Match: Olympic Men's Soccer National Team vs. Guinea
date: March 22, 2024
competition: international friendly
venue: Torremirona Sports Center; Nabata, Girona, Spain
Attendance: 60
kick off: 11 a.m. ET. (Local time: 4pm)
weather: 72 degrees, clear
Score summary: 1 2 F
America 2 1 3
GUI 0 0 0
USA – Nathan Harriel (Griffin Yeo) 9 minutes
USA – Gianluca Busio (Griffin Yeo) 45+1 minutes
USA – Johan Gomez 51 minutes
lineup:
united states of america: 12- Chris Brady. 2-Nathan Harriel (3-John Tolkien, 75), 20-George Campbell (5-Brian Reynolds, 75), 18-Maximilian Dietz (4-Jonathan Tomkinson, 75), 22-Caleb Wylie (7-Kevin Paredes, 63) ); 8-Tanner Tessman (19-Daniel Edelman, 63), 6-Gianluca Busio (16-Aidan Morris, 63), 14-Jack McGlynn (15- Diego Luna, 63). 7- Esmir Bajraktarevic (10- Paxten Aaronson, 46), 17- Johan Gomez (13- Duncan McGuire, 75), 11- Griffin Yeo (9- Cade Cowell, 63)
Substitutes not used: 1-Patrick Schulte
Head coach: Marko Mitrović
GUI: 1-Sandari Conde; 2-Kamala Samkou, 3-Kamala Mohamed Sherif, 4-Souma Mohamed, 6-Kamala Fode, 8-Kamala Ahmadu, 9-Ba Elhadj, 11-Kamala Usman, 12-Ba Algasim, 18-Bangora Sekou Tidiani, 21-Keitaharaj Madiu
Substitutes: 5-Cissé Bangaree, 7-Condé Ousmane, 10-Keita Amadou, 13-Kamara Isiaga, 14-Diallo Mamadou Ser, 15-Traore Solie, 16-Keita Moly, 17-Yura・Mohamed, 19- Bangura Jibril, 20- Diallo Amadou Karabane
Head coach: Charles Paquill
Summary of fraud:
GUI – (Note) 20
GUI – Kamala Ahmadu (Attention) 45
USA – Tanner Tessman (attention) 58
GUI – (Note) 58
Persons involved:
Referee: Jan Cobos Puyol (ESP)
Assistant referee 1: Adria Ballesteros Jurado (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Antonio Trejo Gonzalez (ESP)
Fourth official: Marti Daveza Perez (ESP)
