Gifted an equalizer just before the hour, having long conceded their away-goal tiebreaker over Colombia in Tuesday's CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Playoff, the US Under-23 national team could only contain Los Cafeteros for six more minutes.
Roger Martinez's second goal proved the game-winner in Colombia's 2-1 victory at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, boosting them to 3-2 on aggregate in the two-leg set.
The loss leaves the US outside the Men's Olympic field at the Rio 2016 Olympics this summer, with Colombia claiming the final spot in the 16-team competition.
Box Score
- 30' – COL– Roger Martinez (Andrés Roa)
- 57' – US– Deiver Machado (OG)
- 64' – COL– Roger Martinez (Devier Machado)
- Full box score
- Stats
Three Things
- #GOODBYERIO A second straight Olympic cycle will play out with the US watching from the sidelines. The effects of the last miss lingered for that entire crew. This disappointment could serve to motivate – or depress – the fledgling talent of this next generation. It's up to indvidual reactions.
- THE REDS Five minutes after coming on as a second-half sub, erstwhile Real Salt Lake product Luis Gil earned the first of a pair of yellows, earning ejection 10 minutes after entry. And former Red Bulls defender Matt Miazga left the US down two men for the final few minutes after pulling down an attacker in the final minute of regulation. Not a good look for a clearly frustrated bunch.
- NEED THAT OFFENSE The only US goal in this one was ... an own goal by a guy who earned it back with an assist minutes later. In search of a spark, coach Andi Herzog inserted Jerome Kiesewetter and swapped the shape of the formation at the half, to no avail. No US attack truly threatened Colombia, which parried and pressured its way to victory.
