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USMNT face a difficult task Friday night, as the U23 squad is in Colombia for the first half of an Olympic qualifying playoff. It’s a two-legged tie, so tonight’s result will be carried across the border for a second leg in Frisco, Texas on March 29.
The entire USMNT has trained in Florida this week, but now it must split. Andi Herzog is the coach of the U23 side, and it’s his job to get the Stars and Stripes to Rio for the 2016 games.
While it’s true both teams have senior squads on the rise, both Colombia and USA have struggled to perform at this level. Colombia has not appeared in an Olympic tournament since 1992, and they have never earned a medal. USMNT qualified as recently as 2008, but their best finish has been fourth place (2000) and they are also without medals. The two teams have never met at this age group.
You might not recognize everyone on the U23 squad, but the team is solid up front. They are led by Seattle Sounders striker Jordan Morris, who spent time with the senior squad in 2015. Also look out for dynamic young MLS talent like Khiry Shelton of NYCFC up front and Will Trapp from Columbus Crew in the midfield.
Here are the basics:
DATE: March 25, 2016
CHANNEL: Fox Sports 1/Univision Deportes
KICKOFF TIME: 5:00 p.m. Eastern
LOCATION: Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez
LIVE STREAM: Click here for all the live stream information
THE LINEUPS
USA: Horvath, Gil, Acosta, Parker, Miazga, Trapp, Miller, Polster, Hyndman, Morris, Rodriguez
Find out how to watch this game in Spanish at AhoraMismo.com: