2024 Paris Olympics: U.S. men's national team rolls to dominant 4-1 win over New Zealand
The USMNT scored four goals for the first time in an Olympic match β a needed palate cleanser after the loss to France
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After a disastrous 3-0 loss to France to open Team USA's Paris Olympics, the U.S. men's national team bounced back with a 4-1 win over New Zealand. The dominant performance in Marseille's Orange VΓ©lodrome was a true team effort, with the team's Olympic-first four goals coming from four different goalscorers.
The U.S. opened up the scoring early, with goals from two of the three veteran players on the team. Djordje Mihailovic struck first with a penalty kick in the eighth minute, followed by Walker Zimmerman scoring in the box off a free kick.
Djordje Mihailovic scores the United States men's first Olympic goal in 16 years to take the lead over New Zealand! π₯ #ParisOlympics
πΊ USA Network and Peacock pic.twitter.com/3LlxnYW8xAβ NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 27, 2024
ITβS TWO. π²
The United States are off to a flying start against New Zealand. #ParisOlympics
πΊ USA Network and Peacock pic.twitter.com/5EuQ33jiRVβ NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 27, 2024
The U.S. ran up the score a bit more, adding another goal in the 30th minute from 22-year-old striker Gianluca Busio. Unfortunately, Busio would leave the pitch just seven minutes later with an apparent injury; it is unclear whether he will miss future games as a result.
3 GOALS IN 30 MINUTES.π₯ #ParisOlympics
πΊ USA and Peacock pic.twitter.com/q3w4VZR0o9β NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 27, 2024
Forward Paxten Aaronson scored Team USA's fourth goal of the match, off a beautiful pass from Griffin Yow. The high-scoring game, besides offsetting the 3-0 loss to France, marked the first time the U.S. has ever scored four goals at the Olympics.
For the first time EVER, Team USA menβs soccer has scored four goals in an Olympic game! π± #ParisOlympics
πΊ USA Network and Peacock pic.twitter.com/W2dIA3u6KCβ NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) July 27, 2024
New Zealand broke through in the 78th minute with a stunning shot from Jesse Randall, making the score 4-1 and robbing the USMNT of a clean sheet. A few late chances from the U.S. almost brought the score up to five, but to no avail.
Despite the Olympics being primarily an under-23 tournament on the men's side, Saturday's win is a big victory for the U.S., not only giving the team three points but also a key advantage in terms of goal differential. The win will likely serve as a confidence booster heading into the end of the group stage.
Notably, Milhailovic's goal also marked the first goal scored by the United States in the Olympics in 16 years; 2024 marks the first time the USMNT has made the Olympics since the 2008 Games in Beijing. The U.S. finished in the group stage in 2008, but has a solid chance to advance from the group with a win over Guinea on Tuesday.