In the 14th minute of the first half, Mihailovich struck a direct free-kick from outside the box, curling the ball over the wall and into the top left corner of the net, leaving Sillah with no chance to save it. The USA U23 team broke the deadlock, leading 1-0!
In the 31st minute, Paxton Aaronson delivered a precise through ball, Kevin Paredes calmly slotted the ball home, and the USA U23 extended their lead, making the score 2-0!
In the 75th minute, McKennie played a wide pass, Kevin Paredes controlled the ball with his chest, cut inside from the right side of the box, and unleashed a powerful shot to complete his brace. Morlaye Keita had no answer, and the USA U23 scored again, now leading 3-0!
At 1:00 AM on July 31, the third round of Group A matches in the 2024 Paris Olympic men’s football tournament saw the USA U23 team face off against Guinea U23.
In the 14th minute of the first half, Mihailovich struck a direct free-kick from outside the box, curling the ball into the top corner, and the USA U23 team broke the deadlock, leading 1-0!
In the 28th minute, Bangaly Sylla was unable to continue due to injury, forcing Guinea U23 to make a substitution, with Oularé coming on.
In the 31st minute, Paxton Aaronson delivered a precise through ball, Kevin Paredes calmly slotted the ball home, and the USA U23 extended their lead, making the score 2-0!
In the 36th minute, Dietz committed a tactical foul and received a yellow card for his aggressive challenge.
At halftime, the USA U23 led Guinea U23 by a score of 2-0.
In the 47th minute, Diakhaby played a precise through ball from the edge of the box, Moriba made a run down the middle, but his shot from a tight angle was blocked.
In the 52nd minute, the USA U23 made multiple substitutions, with Atenasio and McKennie entering the pitch, while goal scorer Mihailovich was taken off.
In the 60th minute, McKennie delivered a corner kick with perfect placement, Harell headed the ball at the far post, but Morlaye Keita made a diving one-handed save to push the ball over the crossbar.
In the 66th minute, Atenasio delivered a corner kick, and the recently substituted Bush headed the ball, but Oularé made a diving block to keep it out.
In the second minute of stoppage time, Balde broke down the right flank, but Zimmerman made a crucial interception. Balde then took a tactical corner kick, Issiaga Kamara delivered a cross, and Cherif Kamara headed the ball, which was tipped over the crossbar by Schulte.
The remaining time saw no further changes to the scoreline, with the USA U23 defeating Guinea U23 3-0 and advancing to the quarterfinals alongside France U23.
USA U23 starting lineup (4-3-3):
1-Schulte; 3-Zimmerman; 12-Robinson; 5-Tokian; 2-Harell; 14-Mihailovich (52′ 16-McKennie); 4-Dietz (52′ 21-Atenasio); 8-Texeira; 9-Ureña (66′ 10-Bush); 7-Paredes (78′ 17-Willie); 11-Aaronson (66′ 13-McGuire);
Unused substitutes: 18-Slonina; 15-Kremaski;
Guinea U23 starting lineup (3-4-3):
1-Sillah (46′ 16-Morlaye Keita); 3-Sylla (28′ 2-Oularé); 13-Mady Keita; 4-Soumah; 17-Toure; 6-Diawara (63′ 15-Issiaga Kamara); 7-Balde; 14-Diallo (85′ 20-Cherif Kamara); 10-Moriya; 12-Algasimé Bah (63′ 9-Henri Kamara); 11-Ousmane Kamara;
Unused substitutes: 8-Naby Keita; 18-Bangoura;