US stumbles as it pushes to join soccer elite

By Ronald Blum

Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, March 27 2012 1:56 p.m. MDT

View 8 photos »

Mix Diskerud of the United States sits on the field after the United States tied 3-3 with El Salvador in a CONCACAF Olympic qualifying soccer match on Monday, March 26, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. El Salvador scored in extra time to cause a 3-3 draw, eliminating the United States from Olympic qualifying.

Mark Humphrey, Associated Press

Summary

A day after the United States was eliminated from Olympic qualifying by conceding a last-second goal to tiny El Salvador, the American soccer community again was looking for solutions to the problems that have kept it from joining the sport's elite.

NEW YORK — A day after the United States was eliminated from Olympic qualifying by conceding a last-second goal to tiny El Salvador, the American soccer community again was looking for solutions to the problems that have kept it from joining the sport's elite.

The Americans were eliminated by Ghana in the last two World Cups. The under-20 team's streak of seven trips to the world championship ended last year. And after Monday's collapse, the under-23s have failed to make two of the last three Olympics.

U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati calls the failure to reach the London Games "a huge disappointment on many levels and for everyone involved."

Adds national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann: "The game can be really brutal sometimes."

Comments