No Olympic soccer for U.S. men, again
American under-23 players fell to the field at the final whistle. Another missed Olympics soccer tournament for the U.S. men. Another failed four-cycle.
Juan Carlos Obregón scored in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, goalkeeper David Ochoa committed a blunder that gifted Luis Palma a goal two minutes into the second half, and Honduras beat the United States, 2-1, on Sunday in an Olympic qualification game at Guadalajara, Mexico.
U.S. captain Jackson Yueill pulled a goal back with a curling 23-yard shot in the 52nd minute, but the Americans misfired on several good chances to equalize.
“Obviously, we’re devastated, absolutely devastated,” U.S. coach Jason Kreis said. “In our locker room, the guys are like it’s a tragedy — a tragedy.”
U.S. men had trouble creating chances in the first half, and the Americans missed their third straight Olympics.
“They were very well man-oriented to stop players, which didn’t give us a lot of time to kind of break them down,” Yeuill said.
The American Olympic skid is part of a trend that includes the senior national team missing the 2018 World Cup.
“We lose an opportunity to play in an international tournament with more pressure, where these players have to be in these environments and continue to improve with that pressure,” Kreis said.
REYNA, PULISIC HELP TOP N. IRELAND
Gio Reyna scored on a deflected shot in the first half, Christian Pulisic converted a penalty kick in the second and the United States beat Northern Ireland, 2-1, in an exhibition at Belfast on Sunday for the Americans’ first win at a European opponent since 2015.
Reyna received a pass from Tim Ream and took four touches with no pressure. His right-footed shot from 24 yards deflected off a leg of Ciaron Brown and over goalkeeper Conor Hazard in the 30th minute for his second international goal.
Pulisic, captaining the U.S. for the fourth time, made it 2-0 when he slid the ball to the left of Hazard in the 59th minute for his 15th international goal. Playing just his second match for the Americans since October 2019, Pulisic had taken a pass from Reyna and was tripped by Daniel Ballard.
PENNY LEADS MEMPHIS TO NIT TITLE
Memphis has its first title with Penny Hardaway as coach, and these young Tigers could be set up for more.
Boogie Ellis scored 23 points and Memphis never trailed after a fast start to beat Mississippi State, 7764, in the NIT championship game Sunday, wrapping up Hardaway’s third season coaching his alma mater after the Tigers just missed out on their first NCAA Tournament since 2013-14.
HORSCHEL WINS IN AUSTIN
Billy Horschel didn’t find much to admire about his golf Sunday except that he was the last man standing in the Dell Technologies Match Play.
Horschel won six out of his seven matches over 122 holes in the longest week in golf, and had just enough left in the tank in strong wind to hold off Scottie Scheffler, 2 and 1, in a sloppy championship match at Austin Country Club.