SANDY, Utah – The United States Under-23 national team certainly took their time, but they finally kept their Olympic hopes alive on Tuesday, defeating Canada 2-0 to finish third in the CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship.
The US will face Colombia in March 2016 in a playoff for the final spot in the 2016 Olympics in what US Soccer tweeted will be a two-leg series.
On Tuesday, the US got a 70th-minute goal from San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Marc Pelosi and a penalty-kick goal from Jerome Kiesewetter to down 10-man Canada and secure third place at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Pelosi’s strike from distance was a long time coming, but it did the job for a beleaguered US side, who struggled to break down Canada despite going up a man in the final minute of the first half.
Canada right back Giuliano Frano was shown his second yellow card one minute before the halftime break for dissent, reducing Canada to 10 men. Canada played compact and disciplined defense for the entire second half and were able to stymie most everything the Yanks threw at them.
The US resorted to long-range shots and open play crosses in an attempt to put something on frame. Jordan Morris registered a dangerous shot on goal in the 52nd minute. He received the ball wide open at the back post and Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau rushed out to meet the Stanford forward, blocking the shot away for a corner.
The breakthrough moment finally came for the US in the 70th minute. Pelosi lined up a shot from 23 yards out and blasted a laser toward goal. Canada’s defense was able to get a leg to it but could only deflect it into the roof of the net.
The US sealed their victory in the 84th minute when Kiesewetter got past Crépeau before being dragged down by the Impact goalkeeper. Kiesewetter himself stepped to the spot and calmly slotted home, doubling the lead and securing the win.
