US Men's Soccer Knocked Out of Olympics

El Salvador scores last-minute goal to knock out U-23 team
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 27, 2012 9:18 AM CDT
US Men's Soccer Knocked Out of Olympics
Xavier Garc’a of El Salvador and Terrance Boyd of the US chase the ball during a 2012 Men's Olympic Qualifying match at LP Field on March 26, 2012 in Nashville, Tenn.   (Getty Images)

The US won't be competing in men's soccer at the Olympics, thanks to a heartbreaking goal that came literally at the last minute. El Salvador battled the US to a 3-3 draw last night, the AP reports; the US, which had been heavily favored to win its group in CONCACAF qualifying, needed a win after being upset by Canada 2-0. It was a back-and-forth affair, with the US scoring in the first minute, then falling behind, and finally coming back to lead 3-2.

But in stoppage time El Salvador's Jaime Alas bounced a ball off the hands of substitute keeper Sean Johnson and into the net. Starting keeper Bill Hamid had been injured in the 31st minute, but, in a move ESPN suspects will be much-criticized, he wasn't pulled out immediately. El Salvador scored two goals against him in six minutes.“This is probably the worst feeling I've ever felt in my life,” says captain Freddy Adu. “This is going to be hard to get over.” (More soccer stories.)

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