U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team Falls 1-0 to Morocco to Close November International Window
Despite Second-Half Push, African Champion Tops USA on 31st-Minute Goal
SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR, Spain (Nov. 21, 2023) – The U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team fell 1-0 to African champion Morocco in its second match of the November international window. In a tightly-contested game, midfielder Bilal Nadir netted in the 31st minute to push the Atlas Lions to a narrow victory.
The difference-maker came just after the half-hour mark. Winning the ball in the U.S. half, defender Mathys Tourraine played quickly up to Younes Taha driving down the right wing. While a U.S. defender tried to poke the ball out, the Moroccan midfielder maneuvered around him and played inside to Nadir at the top of the box. He took a touch around a falling U.S. defender before ripping a left-footed shot to the far left post for what would be the game-winning goal.
The U.S. pushed hard for an equalizer in the second half but couldn’t find the back of the net despite a number of good opportunities, including a hard-hit shot from midfielder Cole Bassett and a late header from forward Cade Cowell teed up by midfielder Benjamin Cresmaschi that was stopped by a diving save from Morocco goalkeeper Walid Hasbi.
The Men’s Olympic Soccer Tournament is restricted to players under the age of 23 with an allowance for three overage players. The team serves as an important part of the Federation’s mission to develop winning teams as it will provide some of the nation’s top young talent the opportunity to face elite opposition on the world stage next summer.
The USA qualified for its first Olympic Men’s Football Tournament in 16 years with a dominant performance at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship. There, the U.S. topped host Honduras 3-0 before a raucous crowd in San Pedro Sula to secure its Olympic berth.
-U.S. MEN’S OLYMPIC SOCCER TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: United States Men’s Olympic Soccer Team vs. Morocco
Date: November 21, 2023
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Pinatar Arena; San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
Kickoff: 9 a.m. ET (3 p.m. local)
Weather: 73 degrees, clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 0 0
MAR 1 0 1
MAR – Bilal Nadir (Younes Taha) 31st minute
Lineups:
USA: 1-Chris Brady; 2-Nathan Harriel (19-Cole Bassett, 46), 13-Maximillian Dietz, 4-Jonathan Tomkinson, 3-John Tolkin; 8-Tanner Tessmann (Capt.) (20-George Campbell, 74), 14-Jack McGlynn (5-Bryan Reynolds, 46), 6-Gianluca Busio (15-Benjamin Cremaschi, 66); 17-Bernard Kamungo (11-Esmir Bajraktarevic, 74), 7-Johan Gomez (18-Agustin Anello, 74), 10-Taylor Booth (9-Cade Cowell, 46)
Substitutes not used: 12-John Pulskamp
Head coach: Marko Mitrović
MAR: 12-Walid Hasbi; 2- Mathys Tourraine (11-Zakaria El Ouahdi, 77), 4-Mohamed Jaouab, 5-Ayman El Wafi, 6-Mohamed Nassoh (23-Aimen Mouefek, 59), 13-Yanis Begraoui (Capt.) (9-Amine El Ouazzani, 77), 17-Yassine Oukili (8-Yassine Kechta, 77), 19-Zakaria Labib (18-Ayoub Amraoui, 59), 21-Amine Et Taïbi, 24-Bilal Nadir (20-Tawfik Bentayeb, 77), 25-Younes Taha
Substitutes not used: 1-Alaa Bellaarouch, 22-Rachid Ghanimi, 3-Chadi Riad Dnanou, 7-Ilias Akhomach, 10-Salah Ibrahim, 14-Salim El Jebari, 15-Mehdi Boukamir
Head coach: Issam Charai
Stats Summary: USA / MAR
Shots: 7 / 4
Shots on Goal: 5 / 4
Saves: 3 / 5
Corner Kicks: 4 / 4
Fouls: 6 / 11
Offside: 0 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Maximilian Dietz (Caution) 30th minute
MAR – Mohamed Nassoh 55
USA – Cade Cowell (Caution) 60
USA – Tanner Tessmann (Caution) 65
USA – Jonathan Tomkinson (Caution) 82
MAR - Amine El Ouazzani (Caution) 82