It was a day of highs and lows for U.S. Soccer on Tuesday as the Sr. National Team topped Guatemala 4-0 in the second match between the two countries in five days, but the U-23s fell 2-1 to Colombia to drop the aggregate-goal series 3-2, ending the U.S. run toward the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
Real Salt Lake captain Kyle Beckerman started and played 90 minutes against Guatemala, showing once again the tremendous impact he has on the U.S. squad when he’s on the field. Contrasting with the 2-0 loss in Guatemala on Friday – in which Beckerman did not appear – the U.S. looked like a completely different team, dominating from the opening whistle.
Clint Dempsey scored in the 12th minute on an assist from Gyasi Zardes and the U.S. made it 2-0 before halftime when Geoff Cameron headed in a free kick from Michael Bradley. Zardes assisted a second goal just after halftime when Graham Zusi made it 3-0 in the 46th minute, then Jozy Altidore put the exclamation point on the match in the 89th minute for the final 4-0 tally.
Beckerman started in the midfield along with Bradley and Zusi in a 4-3-3 formation deployed by U.S. Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann. It was his first start since playing 120 minutes in a 3-2 loss to Mexico in the 2015 CONCACAF Cup on October 10, 2015.
The win in Columbus, Ohio, was a big step forward for the U.S. in its quest for 2018 World Cup qualifying, moving America to 2-1-1 in four Group Stage matches with two matches remaining against St. Vincent & The Grenadines on the road September 2 and Trinidad & Tobago in Jacksonville, Florida, on September 6. The U.S. currently sits second in the Group 3 standings with seven points, behind only T&T with 10 points.
In the nightcap, the U.S. U-23s hosted Colombia in the second leg of the 2016 Olympic Qualifying Playoff in Frisco, Texas, after drawing in the first leg 1-1 in Barranquilla, Colombia. The visitors took a 1-0 lead in the match in the first half, but an own-goal equalized the series in the 58th minute. Colombia then took control of the match in the 64th minute and in a frantic effort to get two goals in the final 26 minutes, the U.S. had two players sent off – former RSL midfielder Luis Gil in the 77th minute and Matt Miazga in the 90th minute. The loss eliminated the U.S. from contention for the 2016 Olympics in the summer.
Elsewhere in CONCACAF, RSL defender Demar Phillips started for the second consecutive match for Jamaica in a 3-0 loss to Costa Rica in San Jose, Costa Rica. Phillips played the first half before giving way to Darren Mattocks at halftime as Jamaica looked to cut into a 2-0 halftime deficit, but Costa Rica only extended its lead with a second half goal. Jamaica drew Costa Rica 1-1 in the previous meeting on Friday in Kingston, Jamaica, and now sits third in Group 2 with four points at 1-2-1, behind Costa Rica (10 points) and Panama (seven points).
