U23s Drop CONCACAF Final

Lose to Honduras in Rematch; Both Teams with Olympic Berths

March 23, 2008

By getting to the final, both the U.S. and Honduras had already earned the right to represent the region in this summer’s Beijing Olympics.

With time winding down in the first overtime period, Georgie Welcome put away the game-winner on a feed from Marvin Sanchez in the 103rd minute. It was the just the second goal allowed by the U.S. during five games in qualifying, and the first goal since the opening half of their match against Cuba, a streak of 421 minutes.

Stuart Holden had a few chances for the US Under-23 team, but was unable to convert. (Chris Aduama/aduama.com)

Thursday night’s victory over Canada clinched the men’s 13th trip to the Olympics and first since 2000. All qualifying clubs will be allowed to add three veteran players to its U-23 roster for the tournament, held from Aug. 8-24.

“I congratulated our players in the locker room for their effort,” said U.S. head coach Peter Nowak. “It was a very difficult tournament for us and for both teams in terms of knowing how you’re supposed to prepare yourself from game to game. As we said, we work on the spirit and the team mentality and it worked pretty well. We’re happy to be going to the Olympic Games and sometimes for the players it’s just, they’re relieved to get it all behind them and looking forward to getting some MLS games."

Overall, the U.S. finished the tournament with a 3-1-1 record. Freddy Adu, who was named to the Best XI by the CONCACAF Technical Committee on Saturday, led all goalscorers with four tallies in three games played. Maurice Edu, Dax McCarty and Michael Orozco were also named to the Best XI, while midfielder Sacha Kljestan earned Honorable Mention.

Against Honduras, the U.S. was without the services of four European-based players where allowed to return to their club teams for weekend matches. Along with Adu, Boston College alum Charlie Davies, Jonathan Spector and Sal Zizzo made their way back across the pond on Friday.

With just 16 players to choose from, Nowak once again made a number changes to his lineup, keeping Edu, McCarty and Jozy Altidore on the bench to start the match. Edu would come on in the 26th minute to replace an injured Hunter Freeman, while Altidore would come on in the 80th minute as the U.S. looked for the game-winner.

The Americans actually outshot Honduras, 23-9, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Stuart Holden, Robbie Findley and Eddie Gaven were at the center of most of the U.S. opportunities in the first half, with Holden creating the first chance of the game in just the third minute. Getting free down the right flank, Holden swung in a cross, but the Honduras defense was up to the task, as it was all night, and cleared the ball out of danger.

In the 33rd minute, the U.S. created possibly the best chance for either team in the first half when Gaven collected the ball in midfield and pushed forward. The Columbus Crew midfielder fed the ball to Robbie Findley, who was able to avoid a tackle and slip the ball to Edu inside the box. Edu unleashed a shot that looked destined for the lower right corner, but Honduras goalkeeper Kevin Hernandez was able to push it wide.

The U.S. had a fantastic opportunity to take the lead in the 71st minute when Barrett received the ball on the right wing and played it in for Findley, who headed the ball down on goal, but it bounced up and hit the cross bar before being touched out of bounds by Marvin Sanchez.

With the temperatures continuing to drop on a cool evening in Nashville, the team’s moved into overtime to decide the Final and it was Honduras that took advantage. In the 103rd minute of the first overtime, Welcome produced a great individual effort that would eventually allow Honduras to raise the trophy on the field after the match. Sitting near the top of the penalty area, he received a ball from the left flank, touched it around Orozco and uncorked a driving shot into the upper right corner from 22 yards out.

The U.S. and Honduras join 13 other teams who have already entered the 16-team tournament, with one spot still up for grabs for a team from Africa. The draw for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament will take place on April 20 in Beijing.

U.S. UNDER-23 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM GAME REPORT:

Scoring Summary:
HON – Georgie Wilson Welcome (Marvin Sanchez) 103rd minute

Lineups:
USA: 18-Dominic Cervi; 15-Kamani Hill, 3-Michael Orozco, 4-Pat Ianni, 13-Hunter Freeman (6-Maurice Edu, 26); 7-Stuart Holden (2-Marvell Wynne, 89), 16-Sacha Kljestan (capt.), 5-Nathan Sturgis, 20-Eddie Gaven; 19-Chad Barrett (12-Jozy Altidore, 80), 14-Robbie Findley

HON: 1-Kevin Hernandez; 2-Quiarol Arzu, 3-David Alejandro Molina, 5-Erick Norales (capt.), 6-Luis Alfredo Molina (18-Jose Cesar Guity, 69), 7-Rigoberto Padilla, 8-Irvin Reyna, 10-Ramon Nunez (13-Arnol Solorzano, 115), 16-Marvin Sanchez, 21-Oscar Morales (14-Mario Martinez, 43), 24-George Wilson Welcome

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