The last time the US made it to the Quarters in Men’s Soccer is 24 years ago, shocking, well, they have not made the tourney in a number of Olympiads.
The US is being booed big time, let’s hope they feed on this. Up the wing, the centering ball on the ground played out for a corner. Taking it is McGlynn. He gets it into the 6. Punched out as Zimmerman, the target has his shirt pulled back, no call, but foul called on the US. Twice in seconds, US players are put to ground, mere yards from the ref, no call. Tolkin, able to defend the ball out for a corner as the player carries beyond a number of US players, now a corner for Morocco. Tolkin of Red Bulls takes the header off the top of his head, not the forehead and is down. A stretcher is up, he is not and the ref is trying to get them moving, off a head blow, wrong move. Helped to his feet, he indicates the top of his head to the training staff. Tim Howard now speaks of the loss if he is unable to return between being one of the best players in the tourney and the attacks he starts from his left back position. He is back in, just made a play, seems fit to go. Great crossing ball to Parades, he has suffered a lot of fouls in these games. He is now tripped off the ball, DFK US from 30 or so yards. Now it is mentioned he is in fact the most fouled player of these games. McGlynn finds Zimmerman into the area to Aaronson but he is off. A lead ball into the area, grabbed up by the US GK. Parades, ridden off the ball by the son of Sugar Ray Richardson the embattled NBA player of the 70’s. NJ can’t quite get it to Queens as Tolkin has his pass goes out before reaching McGlynn. As in the France game, an open player is dangerous, gets the ball just beyond the area, turns into it and wins a corner. A short corner, not tracked winds up with a great chance on goal, it was bound for the back of the net if not for the GK. Now what could be the 5th restart for Morocco in the US defensive 3rd, this one a DFK from about 30 yards and wide of the area. Aaronson seeks out Yow, but too far ahead as it is lost. McGlynn, on again an open player, commits a professional foul, pulling him down by the shoulder at 16’, now less than 25 yards out, not expecting it on goal but just wide of the goal, into the 6 is most likely. On goal, right at the GK. Just unalbe to get a toe on it to clear a few times, a robona in is grabbed up by the GK and the US now holds for a bit. Morocco turns on the press, a pass by Tolkin breaks it and a long shot by McGlynn and a call on Djordie. Over the top it goes harmlessly over the endline, goal kick. Paredes kind of screened but fouled, yet again. Djordie to take another kick from about 40 yards, tied to drop in the area for Aaronson, the GK gets there first. Robinson with a long ball to Parades and the US keeps it even winning a throw on the far touchline. The US with maybe ten passes at this point have crossed the field and covered another 40 or more yards as well. Another lead ball is out, this time played there by the US backline for another corner. Headed out, back in again and again. PK called from my perspective it was one of the redshirted and stocking wearing feet that hit the other for Morocco, not the US player. Watching it twice now seems the same, waiting for a different angle? VAR upholds the call at 29’. Guessing right, but the shot to the right corner by Rahimi is true, 1-0, into the side netting. Zimmerman cuts out the feet of the goal scorer and the trainers are now out. Robinson leads Tolkin, who does not move, that would have drawn him nearer to a defender. Another corner for Morocco, lands in the area and cleared out over the half. Harriel defending grabs a lot of jersey and is whistled for it just equal to the penalty area about 10 yards onto the field. If the long one was on goal, why is this one not? Well wide and high no idea what the intent was. Tolkin with a push and called for it. Morocco is getting their bodies in front of the ball, blocking the US out, the push is not the answer, force him the same direction he faces. Rahimi into the area on the ground. Harriel a bit loose on high marking then is beat but the ball in is headed clear. Morocco again pressing, Tolkin carries out and beats a few it is obvserved by the commentators. Harriel misjudges a ball, recovers to nod it out of touch. Yow with a great defense not allowing the player past him then knocking it out of play, 5’ of extra time coming. Zimmerman clears from Hakimi and sends it to the center circle. Parades cannot beat his man, now Morocco is at the top of the area, Robinson gets it out. Morocco off the turn over, stymied by Zimmerman. From 25 yards, Morocco will have a DFK from the sliding tackle by Aaronsaon with 90 seconds left in the extra time. Just beyond the top of the arc barely right of the goal. Over the top.
More of the same by the USA, but get forward, tighten up a bit on defense. Morocco had some better looks a few saves and many ball off the mark, should give them confidence to pull back the goal on the PK for Morocco. Morocco keep bringing the game at the US, take more chances on your offensive end why not, may get another.
First corner goes to Morocco. Now the ball in is off the US, a deep throw. Tolkin with a steal and it gets back to the GK, then McGlynn and back again to the GK, not how to start this first half. US corner, Finds Tessman from Djordie but not enough on the ball as he was backing up to get it. The first shot on goal for the US comes at 50 minutes, that is very telling. Zimmerman holds the top of Rahimi and he flops, but the ball was nowhere near him and there were about 2 more defenders there? A bit long by Morocco and the GK grabs it finding Zimmerman as it goes up Parades blocked, clipping if in the NFL. Parades tries a full mid air volley and it is blocked out for a deep US throw. Morocco GK went up got a good punch on the ball but is now down. Crossing ball at the 6 mishandled by the GK, but the US recovers. Now Parades fouled again and this one draws a caution. Parades blocked but wins it back as the US holds into the area to Robinson and it is just wide. The best look of the game for the team. Zimmerman with a risky sliding tackle in the area, but he nailed it no PK. To speak of his experience, knowing to make the tackle now?, after his foul in the World Cup is odd from Howard. From well beyond the area and well wide go Morocco. One player left on the wing, another not tracked through the area, a ball into the 6 then the net, 2-0. This is how they let up all the goals facing France, no excuse for this games later, the goal is being checked, the ball outside may have gone out of play? We do not have a shot along the touchline but again they are not sharing other angles over TV? Does not in a closer view of the same angle, appear to have been over the line. Harriel suffers another hard foul. Tolkin from the endline looks to cut it back to Aaronson two NJ guys, but it is lost. A ball in by the US, played out, now a deep throw. Hakimi beats Parades for a head ball, into the area, he tucks it into the left corner of the net with Now less than 20’ to go and the US must push also exposes their defense should they go this route. Why no subs for offense as yet I cannot answer. Aaronson gets cautioned, tackle from behind off the players shin then foot. The press gets the ball then it is lost for the US. Seeking McGuire, the pass kept drifting further and further outside, going out of play. At 80’ these subs I would say are coming very late. Another PK. Handball by Harriel, his 2nd of the game. Again the GK guessing right but unable to get to it. Morocco 4-0.Tessman fires high and wide.