The United States defeated Honduras 3-0 in the semifinals of the North and Central America and Caribbean Under-20 Championships in San Pedro Sula on Friday night to qualify for the first Olympic men’s soccer tournament since 2008.
Philadelphia Union’s Leeds midfielder Brendon Aronson’s 18-year-old brother Paxton Aronson scored in the third minute.
Alejandro Alvarado, who played four games for Portugal’s Vizella last season, scored the 23rd goal, and Aaronson’s Philadelphia teammate Quinn Sullivan scored the 43rd goal as the United States finished 16th on the 2024 Olympic Tour. France.
Olympic men’s football is limited to players under the age of 23, with each country being allowed to exceed the limit of three wild cards. After the United States failed in three straight qualifying cycles after several clubs refused to provide top players, CONCACAF changed the qualifying of the under-23 teams and included them as part of the under-20 championship.
The United States were knocked out of the 2012 Olympic qualifying round when Sean Johnson scored a goal from Jem Alas in stoppage time in the second half to level a 3-3 draw with El Salvador in the final of the American group stage.
The Americans lost 2-0 to El Salvador in the 2016 Olympic qualifying game, followed by a 3-2 defeat to Colombia in the two-leg playoff for second place.
In last year’s Olympic qualifying round, the US lost 2-1 to Honduras as goalkeeper David Ochoa caught the ball in his own net.
The Dominican Republic beat Guatemala 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
The winners of CONCACAF’s four semi-finals have qualified for the Under-20 World Cup to be played in Indonesia from May 20 to June 11 next year.