Last night I witnessed one of the most heartbreaking defeats I have ever seen--and it wasn't technically a defeat. The US men's national team--comprised entirely of players 23 and under to oblige with Olympic rules--gave up a goal four minutes and twelve seconds into stoppage time to tie El Salvador 3-3. It was a must win game for the US team, who was trying to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament, where they could lock up a spot in the 2012 London Olympic games. The goal cost the team a spot in the semi-finals of the Olympic qualifying tournament and a whole lot more.
After Terrance Boyd volleyed home a cross from Brek Shea in the first minute to put the US up 1-0, El Salvador countered with two goals in two minutes later in the first half. US and DC United goalie, Bill Hamid, left right after giving up the second goal with an apparent injury. His replacement was 22-year-old Sean Johnson, who plays for the Chicago Fire. At the half with the US trailing 1-2 in a must win bout, it seemed as if their Olympic dreams were fading out of focus. Then in the 65th minute Terrance Boyd got on the score sheet once again, after a spell of brilliant play from Freddy Adu, who found Boyd perfectly in the box. All of a sudden there was new life in the US side and just three minutes later Joe Carona, one of the standout performers of the tournament, put the United States ahead 3-2. Again it was Freddy Adu with a beautiful ball into the box leading to the goal.
At this point all the US had to do to win the group and advance on to the semi-finals (each semi-final winner earns a spot into the Olympics) was hold their 3-2 lead. They seemed destined to do so, with Johnson and the defense holding their ground and thwarting any attacks El Salvador mustered up. Then it was announced that there would be four minutes of stoppage time, which seemed like the right amount. The US continued to hold onto the lead. Then with the clock at 94:07 and the ball at midfield the whistle did not blow. El Salvador was given one last gasp chance to attack. Jaime Alas emerged with the ball from midfield and took off down the left/center side of the pitch, he launched a desperate shot from close to 25 yards out, but the ball took one hop then skipped off of Johnson's hands and into the back of the net. 3-3. Game over.
So now the US will not participate in soccer at the 2012 Olympic games, and this is a MASSIVE blow to US Soccer. There are few things in life that Americans love more than the Olympics. It allows all of us Americans to unite behind one thing. There are no Democrats and Republicans, no 99% and 1%, no Red Sox and Yankees when it comes to the Olympics. The only thing that matters is the U-S of A.
We all saw what happened with the US Olympic hockey team in 2010. I myself am not much of a hockey fan, but like millions of other Americans I was captivated by the Olympic team and their quest for gold. It was an amazing two weeks for hockey. The sport was able to be in the spotlight for the first time in a long, long time. Even if the buzz around hockey has since died down following that magical two week period, the sport still gained a ton of popularity in America following the Olympics. Soccer will not be able to get that buzz that hockey got now that the Americans have been eliminated.
While soccer has steadily been gaining momentum in the US this loss provided a devastating blow to the sport. It was a chance to put US Soccer in the spotlight without having a World Cup. Sure it is entirely possible even if the US won last night that they would have lost their semi-final match and still not made the Olympics, and sure it is possible that even if they made it to London they would have crashed and burned in the early stages and not gained any nationwide popularity. What I do know though is that with the loss last night there is not even a chance for the sport to continue gaining momentum and to continue to expand its fan base this summer.
So to the casual US Soccer fan, we will see you in 2014.
Follow Matt on Twitter @matthouston91 and follow Love Boat Sports @LoveBoatSports
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