The United States soccer Olympic dream lives on.
The U.S. earned a decisive 2-0 win over 10-man Canada on Tuesday at Rio Tinto Stadium in the third place game of the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament, earning a spot in a playoff with Colombia in March. The qualification process took a big hit for the U.S. after a 2-0 loss to Honduras in the semifinal round on Saturday in a match that would have advanced the Americans to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. However, the 2-0 win keeps it in contention.
After a scoreless first half that saw Canada go down a man in the 44th minute when Giuiano Frano was shown a second yellow card for dissent in the 44th minute and thus ejected from the match, the U.S. dominated the second half, turning a distinct possession advantage turn into scoring chances against a bunkering Canada defense.
Marc Pelosi finally broke the deadlock in the 69th minute, as the San Jose Earthquakes midfielder ripped a shot from the top of the box that ricocheted off a defender on the goal line and into the net for a 1-0 U.S. lead.
Jerome Kieswetter doubled the lead in the 84th minute when he got out on the break and was taken down for a penalty by Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. Kieswetter took the penalty, smashing it into the right side of the net to beat Crepeau and stake the U.S. to a 2-0 lead.
Both Real Salt Lake midfielder Luis Gil and defender Boyd Owuonu appeared as second-half substitutes for the U.S. in their home stadium.
U.S. 2-0 CANADA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015
CONCACAF OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
RIO TINTO STADIUM
Goals by Period 1 2 F
U.S. 0 2 2
Canada 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
USA: Marc Pelosi 69’
USA: Jerome Kiesewetter (PK) 84’
Misconduct Summary:
USA: Marc Pelosi (Yellow; Foul) 16’
CAN: Anthony Jackson-Hamel (Yellow; Foul) 24’
CAN: Giuliano Frano (Yellow; Foul) 32’
CAN: Giuliano Frano (Yellow; Dissent) 44’
CAN: Giuliano Frano (Red; Second Yellow) 44’
Lineups:
U.S. (4-4-2): Ethan Horvath; Matt Polster, Matt Miazga, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Dillon Serna (Luis Gil 73’); Wil Trapp, Fatai Alashe, Marc Pelosi, Alonso Hernandez (Emerson Hyndman 63’); Jordan Morris, Jerome Kieswetter (Boyd Okwuonu 91+’).
Substitutes not used: Zack Steffen, Charlie Horton, Will Packwood, Maki Tall, Gboly Ariyibi.
Canada (4-5-1): Maxime Crepeau; Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, Luca Gasparotto, Dkylar Thomas, Giuliano Frano; Michael Petrasso, Dylan Carreiro (Jonathan Grant 46’), Sam PIette, Christopher Mannella (Jay Chapman 62’), Caleb Clarke; Anthony Jackson-Hamel (Mo Babouli 87’).
Substitutes not used: Ricky Gomes, Quillan Roberts, Jackson Farmer, Mauro Eustaquio, Ben Fisk, Hanson Boakai.
Referee: Luis Santander
Assistant Referees: Israel Valenciano, Ronaldo De La Cruz
Fourth Official: Karl Tyrell
Weather: Sunny and 79
