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With a 4-1 win over New Zealand, Guinea is the last step for the USA to reach the quarterfinals of the men’s 2024 Olympics tournament. They can secure a spot in the next round with a win in their final group-stage game against Guinea.
USA dominates New Zealand
The United States has this great opportunity because it was so good in its last time out. They scored against the Kiwis early, and they scored against the Kiwis often.
Djordje Mihailovic opened the scoring in the eighth minute by converting a penalty. Four minutes later, Walker Zimmerman gave the Americans a 2-0 lead with a tap-in after a goal-line scramble. Gianluca Busio made it a three-goal lead inside half an hour with a shot from twelve yards out. Paxten Aaronson put the icing on the cake less than ten minutes into the second half.
New Zealand was able to pull a goal back for a more respectable-looking scoreline, however. As a result, the USA went from a positive one-goal difference down to an even goal difference, which could become an important tiebreaker.
Advancement scenarios
The surest way for the United States to advance to the quarterfinals is to beat Guinea. It’s a classic case of “win and you’re in.” But there are other scenarios in which the USA can advance, even without a win.
The Americans could advance with a draw, as long as New Zealand does not win their game against France. If the USMNT were to draw and New Zealand were to lose, the Americanswould advance with four points to New Zealand’s three. If New Zealand and the US were both to draw, each team would have four points, but the USA would advance with the better goal difference.
The Americans can advance, even with a loss, but that is where things get dicey. The only way the USA could stay in the tournament with a loss would be to lose to Guinea by a single goal and hope that France beats New Zealand. And as the full USMNT learned at the end of World Cup Qualifying in 2017, and at this…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/olympics/usa-vs-guinea-preview-americans-can-reach-mens-quarterfinal/
Author : Lawrence Dockery
Publish date : 2024-07-29 22:00:00
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