SAINT-ÉTIENNE, France — As it turned out, the U.S. Olympic men’s soccer team did not need to win its Group A finale Tuesday. Already in grand position to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in 24 years, the Americans nonetheless didn’t let the favorable circumstances affect their mentality and plans.
For the second time in four days, they were ambitious and opportunistic from the opening whistle, and with Djordje Mihailovic and Kevin Paredes scoring in the first half and Paredes adding his second goal late, they claimed second place with a 3-0 victory over Guinea at sticky Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
Their reward is a trip to Paris on Friday to face Morocco, which edged favored Argentina for the top spot in Group B. Argentina and Group A winner France (3-0-0) will tangle in a heavyweight quarterfinal in Bordeaux.
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End of carousel“We didn’t even think about other results and what’s going on,” Coach Marko Mitrovic said. “We came here to be who we are.”
When on their game, they are a dynamic attacking unit that loves setting the terms. Paredes and Griffin Yow — longtime friends from Northern Virginia who rose through the D.C. United academy and in MLS before venturing to Europe — were menacing on the wings and worked with Paxten Aaronson in dismantling Guinea in the first half.
“We’ve been together the past couple camps, really finding ourselves together like a brotherhood, each and every day, getting used to each other,” said Paredes, a South Riding, Va., native who plays for Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga. “It just shows in our football. We’re so happy to have the ball. We’re so happy to play together. In these past couple games, it really showed.”
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The United States (2-1-0) took comfort Tuesday knowing a draw — and perhaps even a loss — probably would have been enough to remain in the 16-team tournament featuring players mostly 23 and under.
Given how well the U.S. team performed in its past two matches — albeit against considerably weaker opponents — the 3-0 loss to France in the opener seemed longer than a week ago.
Sustaining the rhythm that carried them to a 4-1 victory over New Zealand on Saturday, the Americans snatched control right away and went ahead on Mihailovic’s free kick in the 14th minute.
“We knew if we came out from minute one, foot on the gas and get the first goal, we’d be in a really good position,” defender Walker Zimmerman said.
In the 31st minute, Paredes collected Aaronson’s exquisite pass and scored. Paredes struck again in the 75th to become the first U.S. man to score two goals in one game at the Olympics since Rick Davis in 1984 against Costa Rica.
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The last time the U.S. men advanced to the Olympic knockout stage was 2000 in Sydney, with a roster including teenager Landon Donovan, over-aged selection Brad Friedel in goal, young backup keeper Tim Howard and third-year pro Ben Olsen. The Americans won their group and defeated Japan before losing to Spain in the semifinals and Chile in the bronze medal match.
Between then and now, their only Olympic appearance came in 2008 for group-stage elimination in Beijing. Regular failure at regional qualifying in 2004 and 2012 through 2020 frustrated and embarrassed U.S. Soccer officials, who see the Olympics as an opportunity to expose national team prospects to international competition.
“Nothing’s really been accomplished yet,” said Zimmerman, one of three over-aged selections on the 18-man roster. “We’re at the first step of what we came here to do. Hopefully the fans are going to get behind us and keep supporting from back home, and hopefully we can give them something to be proud of.”
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The Olympic success comes less than a month after the national team was bounced from Copa América in the group stage, resulting in coach Gregg Berhalter’s dismissal.
Yow — a Clifton, Va., native employed by Belgian club Westerlo — made an impact in his first start of the tournament with tricky, piercing runs on the left side. The pressure on Guinea’s back line grew.
Mihailovic shattered the deadlock by hooking a right-footed, 22-yard free kick into the top near corner for his second goal in two matches.
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Later, the Americans used perfect timing and execution to score in transition. Aaronson and Paredes synchronized their interaction to the millisecond. As Paredes made his run past the left back, Aaronson threaded the ball through a channel. Paredes took a touch into the box and placed a low shot into the far corner.
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“We know each other’s qualities,” Paredes said. “He put me in great position to score. I had to do the easy part.”
Late in the game, Paredes cut inside and blasted a 16-yard left-footed shot that took a slight deflection and splashed into the near side of the net.
“I was very, very tired,” he said. “But once the ball got into that position, I just had to smack it.”
Since turning pro 4½ years ago at 16, Paredes has made a name for himself with his speedy, unpredictable runs. On Tuesday, he showed he has refined his finishing touch.
“We spoke with Kevin a lot about that, and I think this tournament could be a [breakthrough] for him in his career,” Mitrovic said. “He has a lot of qualities, and he’s always trying to be clinical. He’s getting more mature in the final third [of the field], and it’s great for his future.”
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