Team USA vs. Guinea score: U.S. men advance at Olympics for first time in 24 years, but who do they play next? (2024)

Knockout soccer for the first time in 24 years

Getting their first win over an African nation in Olympic history, the United States will now be in the knockouts of the Olympics after defeating Guinea 3-0. Kevin Paredes paced the team with a brace while Djordje Mihailovic knocked home a free kick to ensure that this was taken care of. Witha 2-0 lead at the half, the U-23s got off to a fast start and both the US men and women are now in the final eight of the Olympics.

Schulte called into action

It was a great save to preserve the clean sheet as the match ticks to a close. Following his poor showing against France, the Columbus Crew man has been locked in.

Six minutes of stoppage remanins

The United States will want to avoid what happened against New Zealand where they conceded a goal late but it's hard to focus when the knockouts are so close.

Score two gaols, get a break

Kevin Paredes has been replaced by Caleb Wiley which will also keep him from getting a yellow and missing the match against Morocco on Friday.

Insurance wasn't needed but it's still great

It's another for Kevin Paredes as he gets his second gal of the match. At this point, will he have enough dances left for how involved he has been? An excellent pass from Jack McGlynn set him up for the finish.

Aaronson exits now

Duncan McGuire enters the match. Griffin Yow also exits for Taylor Booth as Mitrovic is already looking forward to the knockout stages.

Another corner

Atencio gets into an advanced position and tries to pick out Aaronson in the middle. McGlynn's corner kick found his Philadelphia Union teammate Nathan Harriel to lead ot yet another corner kick. The right back has been involved in every set play.

Does Mitrovic want a different shape?

Maxi Dietz and Djordje Mihailovic exit for Jack McGlynn and Joshua Atencio. Atencio was an injury replacement for Gianluca Busio.

Back underway

After a strong fist half, the United States has a chance to finish the job.

Can't ask for a better half than that

Goals from Mihailovic and Paredes pace the United States for a berth to the knockouts as things stand. If this hold, they'll face Morocco on Friday morning but there's still 45 minutes to go in order to finish the job.

Running back the Paredes finish

Six minutes of stoppage coming

With an injury and two goals, it checks out where the stoppage time is coming from in this one. The United States will want to keep things right where they are before the half.

Off the post for Yow

It feels like only a matter of time until he finds the back fo the net as well but Guinea has no answers for the United States attack so far.

Here we go now!

Paredes will take his own chance this time and scores to put the United States ahead by two goals only 30 minutes into the match.

What a chance

A Paredes chance from the wing got to Yow on the opposite side forcing yet another Guinea save. Pressure after pressure after pressure to start this off.

A Guinea injury

Cisse will exit in defense after Naby Keita already had to be replaced before the match after picking up a knock.

That's kind of good, right?

Seven shots already for the United States

Talk about starting fast as five of those have found the target. The United States are making sure to keep advancement in their own hands here.

MIHAILOVIC!!!

What a take as he slots home the free kick after Yow draws the chance. As things stand, the United States is through to the knockout stages.

Taking every chance to shoot

Paredes slipped on his chance but still gets in a good enough shot to force another United States corner. They're very direct and it is pushing the pace of the match early.

So close for Yow

Guinea were almost punished for a giveaway but made the quick save on Yow's shot on frame as the United States drew a corner kick. It wasn't very well taken but get enough chances and it will end well.

We're underway

Morocco has won their group and will finish the second placed finisher in Group A while Argentina will face the winner of Group A.

Prediction

The United States will get the job done qualifying for the knockout stages with a comprehensive victory.Pick:United States 3, Guinea 1

Guinea lineup

All the experienced players are in the XI

Starters: Sylla, Keita, Soumah, Cisse, Diallo, Diawara, Toure, Balde, Moriba, Bah, Keita

Group A Standings

France: 2-0-0, 6 pts. +4 GD
United States: 1-0-1, 3 pts. 0 GD
New Zealand: 1-0-1, 3 pts. -2 GD
Guinea: 0-0-2, 0 pts. -2 GD

Group A schedule

United States vs. Guinea, 1 p.m. on USA
New Zealand vs. France, 1 p.m. on Universo

Why the change atop the XI was made

Playing as a striker is about more than just scoring goals, but being able to score is also pretty important too. While Duncan McGuire put in a solid shift defensively against New Zealand, he still wasn't able to find the back of the net as it felt like the attack was operating around him instead of with him. When he left the match for Griffin Yow, Paxten Aaronson slid into the middle and immediately scored via a Yow assist. His immediate impact is something that can't be taken for granted as Mitrovic is setting up his lineup for the match.

Advancement scenarios

• With a victory against Guinea:The United States will qualify for the knockout round. While France or New Zealand can still win the group, if one of them were to win their match against the other, it would see the United States still finish second via goal difference.
• With a draw against Guinea:The United States will only qualify for the knockout round if New Zealand lose or draw while still having a worse goal difference than the United States.
• With a loss against Guinea:Things get quite tough for the United States. They have a goal difference of zero so losing by one goal to Guinea while New Zealand also lose to France would bring it to the second tiebreaker in all matches which is goals scored in the group stage. The United States would only advance in that 1-0 loss scenario due to scoring more goals than Guinea but losing by more than one goal would see Guinea advance on goal difference and New Zealand picking up a point would see them jump ahead on points.

We've got changes for the United States

With no Busio, Maximilian Dietz will step into the XI but Marko Mitrovic has also changed things atop the attack as well.

Starters: Patrick Schulte, Nathan Harriel, Walker Zimmerman, Miles Robinson, John Tolkin, Maximilian Dietz, Tanner Tessmann, Djordje Mihailovic, Paxten Aaronson, Griffin Yow, Kevin Paredes