Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris started and logged 62 minutes for the U.S. Under-23 team on Tuesday, but Colombia dashed the Americans’ dreams of reaching the Olympics with a 2-1 win at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
With the win, Colombia won the all-important two-leg Olympic qualifying series 3-2 to clinch a spot in Rio de Janeiro this summer, while the U.S. will miss the Olympics for the second consecutive cycle. The U.S. fought for an encouraging 1-1 draw in Barranquilla in the first leg last week, but they struggled to capitalize on that momentum at home.
Colombia forward Roger Martinez scored in the 30th minute and in the 64th to overcome a clumsy own goal from Colombia defender Deiver Machado in the 57th minute that kept the Americans’ hopes alive into the second half on Tuesday.
It was a relatively quiet night for Morris, who finished without a shot while Colombia controlled much of the possession. Morris was replaced by Jerome Kiesewetter in the 62nd minute. The U.S. finished the game with nine men after former Real Salt Lake midfielder Luis Gil was given a red card for unsportsmanlike behavior in the 77th minute and former New York Red Bulls defender Matt Miazga was red carded for a breakaway tackle in the 90th.
Morris is expected to return to Seattle on Wednesday and will resume training with the club on Thursday. The Sounders return to MLS action at home against the Montreal Impact on Saturday (7 p.m. PT; Q13 FOX/Univision Seattle/ROOT Sports (outside Seattle)/KIRO 97.3 FM/El Rey 1360 AM).
