Team USA Men's Olympic Soccer Bid Thwarted in Quarterfinals Following Heavy 4-0 Loss to Morocco
The U.S. Olympic Men's Soccer Team's promising run through France came to an end in the quarterfinal match at the Parc des Princes, where they fell to a talented Moroccan squad by a score of 4-0 on Friday.
The Americans' first Olympic appearance since 2008 included two group-stage victories and their first knockout-round berth in 24 years, but Morocco is experiencing a resurgence in football. Fueled by a passionate home crowd and led by 2022 World Cup standout and Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi, the Atlas Lions, who topped Argentina in their group, proved too strong for the U.S. on the day.
Morocco dominated the first half and took the lead through a Soufiane Rahimi penalty. The USA had their best spell early in the second half, but the North Africans dashed any hopes of a comeback with goals from Ilias Akhomach and Hakimi. A late penalty from El Mehdi Maouhoub completed the scoring for Morocco.
The U-23 African champions advanced to the Olympic semifinals for the first time and will face either Spain or Japan on August 5. The U.S. finished the tournament with a 2-2-0 record, marking the first time the U.S. Men's team won two games at an Olympic tournament.
U.S. coach Marko Mitrović made one change to the lineup that secured the quarterfinal berth, with Jack McGlynn replacing the injured Gianluca Busio in midfield. The U.S. squad had to draw on their chemistry and familiarity to compete in the raucous atmosphere of the Parc des Princes, which was filled with vocal Moroccan supporters. Several Atlas Lions players were born in France or played their club football there, including captain Hakimi, a key figure in Morocco's historic 2022 World Cup run.
Morocco's sustained pressure paid off as the first half approached the half-hour mark. A bit of good fortune led to a penalty for the Atlas Lions when U.S. right-back Nathan Harriel inadvertently kicked Soufiane Rahimi while going for a bouncing ball. The referee pointed to the spot, and Rahimi, the tournament's leading scorer, converted the penalty to give Morocco the lead.
The halftime break allowed the Americans to regroup, and they began the second half with more possession and composure. The USA had three shots, one on target, in the first 10 minutes of the second half, compared to just one in the entire first half. Their best chance came in the 59th minute, as a good passing sequence led to a Walker Zimmerman header that was spun wide by teammate Miles Robinson.
However, Morocco regained control of the match and then pulled away with goals in the 63rd and 70th minutes. As the U.S. pushed for an equalizer, they inevitably left themselves exposed, and the Atlas Lions took advantage. Akhomach scored the first of these two goals, and then Hakimi added the third with a low shot from the U.S. half that beat Schulte.
Morocco's final goal, like their first, came from the penalty spot in stoppage time, with substitute El Mehdi Maouhoub converting the spot kick.
In the 63rd minute, Morocco doubled their advantage. Abde Ezzalzouli won a header and set up Ilias Akhomach, who raced in from the left wing and fired a low, hard shot past Schulte to make it 2-0 for Morocco.
Morocco extended their lead to 3-0 in the 70th minute. Captain Achraf Hakimi won an aerial duel in midfield and had space to dribble before slotting a slow but precisely placed shot just inside the right post.
In the 90th minute plus one, Morocco substitute El Mehdi Maouhoub converted a penalty kick after the ball was judged to have glanced off Harriel's hand, capping the 4-0 victory for Morocco.