Aug. 2 (UPI) -- The United States' best run in the men's Olympic soccer tournament in nearly 23 years came to a brutal end Friday, with Morocco trouncing the Americans 4-0 in the quarterfinals at Paris 2024.
The U.S. team, which advanced past the group stage for the first time since 2000, trailed just 1-0 through the first 62 minutes. It then allowed trio of scores down the stretch of the lopsided match at the Parc des Princes.
AdvertisementThe Moroccans outshot their foes 14-9. The Americans placed just one shot on target and committed 17 fouls, compared to nine from Morocco. The Moroccans also held a 58% to 42% edge in possession time.
Morocco will play Spain, which won silver at Tokyo 2020, in a semifinal Monday in Marseille. The winner will advance to the gold medal match Aug. 9 at the Parc des Princes.
Forward Soufiane Rahimi drew first blood in Friday's match with a 29th-minute penalty kick, and the Moroccans carried their 1-0 lead into halftime.
AdvertisementForward Ilias Akhomach found the net in the 63rd minute.
Midfielder Bilal El Khannouss assisted defender Achraf Hakimi for a third Moroccan score in 70th minute
Forward Mehdi Maouhoub added a final score with a stoppage-time penalty kick.
The other men's soccer semifinal will feature Egypt or Paraguay against France or Argentina.
The women's quarterfinals will be contested Saturday. The United States Women's National Team will face Japan in the first matchup at 9 a.m. EDT at the Parc des Princes.
The women's semifinals and final will be held Tuesday and Aug. 9 respectively.
A hot air balloon carrying the Olympic flame rises into the air during the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on, July 26, 2024. More than 10,000 athletes from 206 countries will compete in the Summer Olympics, which run through August 11. Photo by Maya Vidon-White/UPI | License Photo
