The U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team moved on to the semifinal round of the 2015 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament as the top seed out of Group A after a 4-0 win against Panama at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Panama gamely held the USA scoreless through the first half, but the Yanks’ depth told in the second half as Jerome Kiesewetter and Jordan Morris entered at halftime to spur the U.S. attack. An own goal by Panama defender Fidel Escobar in the 50th minute opened the floodgates as Kiesewetter and Morris both bagged a goal a piece in the ensuing six minutes to give the U.S. a quick 3-0 lead before Luis Gil capped the scoring from the penalty spot in the 71st minute.
The match was also the first of the tournament for goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, who had been with his club Molde FK during the USA’s first two games, but entered the lineup seamlessly to deliver the team’s first shutout of the competition.
The USA will face the loser of Group B’s Mexico-Honduras clash (if the teams tie, the U.S. will play Honduras) in the first semifinal which kicks off from Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah at 1 p.m. MT (3 p.m. ET) on Oct. 10. The second semifinal will follow immediately after from the same stadium and both matches will be broadcast on Telemundo.
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