PARIS — Playing in an openly hostile environment, with an opponent both faster and stronger, the U.S. men’s national team could not keep up with Morocco. They gave up one goal in the first half and two more in quick succession in the second half, losing 4-0. The loss ends the United States’ Olympic hopes.
While there is reason for optimism about performance at the expected level, Morocco has shown how far the US national team must go to compete on the Olympic stage.
Morocco brought an overwhelming fan advantage to the Parc des Princes, with boos and whistles at every American touch. Flares were fired from the stands before the game had even started, and the Moroccan fans kept up a constant, and literal, drumbeat that the American fans simply could not match.
On the pitch, the result was much the same. The United States appeared to have the first good scoring chance of the game when Miles Robinson set up Paxten Aaronson from the left side of the penalty area. Aaronson’s shot went wide to the left, but the celebration would have been short-lived; he was ruled offside.
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi, who plays for Paris St. Germain at the Parc des Princes, orchestrated the attacks early in the first half, most notably a stunning goal that started with a corner and ended with a shot on target that went just over the bar and out of reach of goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
Tempers flared during the match; midway through the first half, the coaches of both countries got into a shouting match on the sidelines, forcing officials to intervene, and referees issued warnings to both coaches. The action on the field remained largely controlled, and largely on the United States’ side. Morocco pushed for chance after chance in the first half, and eventually the United States’ luck ran out.
After a suspicious penalty, Morocco broke through shortly after on the ensuing penalty. Soufiane Rahimi struck the ball low and just beyond Schulte’s reach for the first goal of the game, and Rahimi’s fifth of the Olympics. The players cheered on the pitch as at least four different smoke bombs and flares covered the Parc stands in red, green and white smoke.
The first half ended with the United States growing increasingly frustrated with Morocco’s style of play—and, arguably, the Americans’ inability to do much about it. American John Tolkin, who plays for the MLS’ New York Red Bulls, was particularly demonstrative about the Moroccan attack, but anger was all he could offer.
Two numbers told the story of the first half: 8 and 1, representing the number of shots on target by Morocco and the United States, respectively. Or perhaps 4 and 0 — representing the number of shots that were on target. Morocco had a nearly 2-1 lead over the United States in possession in the first half, and the U.S. was fortunate to trail only 1-0.
The start of the second half proved to be more favorable for the USMNT, but that was only because the first half had been so underwhelming. Fourteen minutes into the half, both Kevin Paredes and Miles Robinson missed chances to score, but the brief flash of hope was enough to inspire the first “USA” chants of the afternoon. The Moroccan fans quickly whistled it off, but it was there.
Unfortunately for the United States, that bit of energy seemed to fire the Moroccan side up, and Ilias Akhomach scored in the 63rd minute after a brilliant pass from Abde Ezzalzouli. A VAR check of a possible handball before the goal failed to provide enough evidence to overturn it, and the Moroccan fans were left dancing in clouds of smoke.
The story was actually over by then, but Hakimi reminded everyone that they were playing in his (adoptive) home. Seven minutes later he rolled a third goal past Schulte. Another penalty after a handball in the 90+1 minute made it 4-0.
The United States exits the tournament with a performance that was about as good as expected, advancing from the group stage and losing to a better team in the knockout stages.
