Paris, France – The USA men’s soccer team achieved a historic victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics, defeating New Zealand 4-1 in a thrilling match that showcased their skill and determination.
The match, held at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, saw the USA team bounce back from their opening loss to France with a dominant performance. Djordje Mihailovic opened the scoring with a penalty kick after Nathan Harriel was fouled in the box, marking the USA’s first men’s Olympic goal in 16 years.
The USA quickly doubled their lead with a goal from veteran defender Walker Zimmerman, who capitalized on a rebound to make it 2-0. Gianluca Busio added a third goal before halftime, thanks to a well-placed assist from Kevin Paredes.
In the second half, Paxten Aaronson sealed the victory with a fourth goal, ensuring the USA’s dominance. Although New Zealand managed to score a consolation goal, it was too late to mount a comeback.
USA head coach Marko Mitrovic praised his team’s early start and composure throughout the match. “When you get in the game with a 2-0 lead at the very beginning, it’s obviously a much easier game,” Mitrovic said. "We never spoke about having to win or tie; we focused on maximizing every game and every opportunity".
The victory puts the USA in a strong position to advance to the knockout stages, with only one point needed from their next match against Guinea to secure their spot. Mihailovic emphasized the importance of staying focused and not getting complacent. “We need to forget about this game as quickly as we can, just like we did against France,” he said. "We go from a pretty big low to now a pretty big high. We have to keep our minds in a steady state and recover emotionally and physically".
The USA men’s soccer team’s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics has reignited hopes for a successful campaign, and fans eagerly await their next match against Guinea.
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