The United States men’s soccer team fell short again and their Olympics are over.
The American squad was destroyed 4-0 by Morocco on Friday in a one-sided affair after reaching the knockout stage of the Olympics for the second time in history.
“To go down in the nature that we did was tough, pretty frustrating,” defender Walker Zimmerman told reporters. “It’s sad because I think it’s a group that has a lot of belief in each other and a lot of character and I don’t think it showed through and that’s what’s hard is knowing how much everyone did care, had each other’s back.”
There were hopes that the team could even go further after they avoided a quarterfinal matchup with defending Copa América and World Cup Champion Argentina.
But Morocco, who upset Argentina in group play, showed why they are a surprising medal challenger in their first-ever appearance in the knockout round.
Even in defeat, coach Marko Mitrovic described the experience as “massive” for his young team.
“We know that the World Cup is the highest tournament. The Olympic Games are the biggest event that humanity created and once you are in the Olympic Games you are in a big spotlight,” he said. “For them to feel that, to live that moment — I think before this tournament, there was uncertainty for them, what that looks like.
“Now, after this, I feel that they are going to be much more ready. Saying that, they were ready for this tournament as well.”
Midway through the first half, the two coaching staffs engaged in a screaming match that had to be broken up by officials, according to Yahoo Sports.
Additionally, Moroccan fans’ brought the heat to Parc des Princes as “boos and whistles accompanying every United States touch,” the outlet reported.
Soufiane Rahimi tucked away the opening goal in the 29th minute on a penalty kick.
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Although the half ended with the US down 1-0, the Moroccans had outshot them 8-1 and momentum was clearly on their side.
The second half got off to a stronger start for the US as Kevin Paredes and Miles Robinson both had looks at goal – sparking the first “U-S-A” chants of the match.
However, Prodigy Ilias Akhomach netted a goal in the 63rd minute, which was followed by captain Achraf Hakimi seven minutes later, extending Morocco’s lead to 3-0.
Morocco then was awarded a penalty in stoppage time which El Mehdi Maouhoub calmly converted for the final tally.
For the U.S., they ended the game with a lone shot on target — exposing their offensive struggles.
— with AP
