Host France Takes Control In Second Half, Triumphs over Team U.S.A.
Jul 24, 2024, 3:09 PM | Updated: Jul 25, 2024, 12:19 pm
PARIS, France – It was a nightmare second half for the United States in a lopsided, 3-0 loss against host nation France in both country’s opening match of the 2024 Paris Games.
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The US Men's Olympic team falls to France, 3-0. pic.twitter.com/rHKjETFaZm
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 24, 2024
Eden, Utah native Taylor Booth began the match on the bench. Booth entered in the 77th minute with his team trailing 2-0.
First Half
Despite being considered a heavy underdog, the U.S. stood up surprisingly well against a tough host team.
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An Olympic XI 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/MuJsgNXJFS
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) July 24, 2024
France outshot the U.S. 7-3 in the opening half, but both sides had just one shot on goal. The French team committed eight fouls to five for the U.S. Killian Sildilla was whistled for a yellow card on the hos side while Kevin Paredes received a yellow in the 37th minute.
Second Half
They played evenly in the opening minutes of the second period until Djordje Mihailovic had a go from a distance that carried off the crossbar. The match remained scoreless through 60 minutes.
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61' | Goal, hosts.
🇫🇷 FRA 1-0 USA 🇺🇸
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) July 24, 2024
France rebounded with a 61st-minute goal from Alexandre Lacazette to take the lead. Lacazette blasted a right-footed shot from outside the box into the left corner of the net. Michael Olise assisted on the goal.
The U.S. nearly responded with a highlight reel goal on the other end, but a header bounced off the post after beating Guillaume Restes in goal.
France’s second goal came in the blank minute when he spun at the top of the 18 and blasted a beautiful ball past a diving Patrick Schulte.
75' | More changes:
In – Taylor Booth, Jack McGlynn, and Griffin Yow
Our – Djordje Mihailovic, Kevin Paredes, and Paxten Aaronson pic.twitter.com/6NjEF8tm5m— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) July 24, 2024
The match was put out of reach when Loïc Badé headed home a ball from the center of the box with Joris Chotard assisting.
France took three points with a 3-0 win.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering the Utah State Aggies, Locals in MLB, and Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees, Beehive baseball, and Aggie athletics coverage here.
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