The U.S. Men’s Olympic Team suffered defeat in its final tune-up match before heading to Paris, France this July.
Marko Mitrovic’s squad lost 2-0 to Japan on Tuesday at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Shota Fujio and Mao Hosoya both scored goals for Japan, who had a comfortable evening against the Americans.
Bryan Reynolds was whistled for handball in the sixth minute and Fujio stepped up from the penalty spot to score for a 1-0 lead. Fujio sent goalkeeper Patrick Schulte the opposite way, propelling the visitors in front.
Japan would double its lead after the hour mark following Shunsike Mito’s interception of John Tolkin’s throw-in pass. Mito’s eventual pass into the box deflected off of Jonathan Tomkinson and Schulte, allowing Hosoya to tap in from four yards out.
Reynolds, Caleb Wiley, Walker Zimmerman, and Duncan McGuire were among the starters in the match. Taylor Booth, Griffin Yow, and Tanner Tessmann also featured for the Americans.
Venezia midfielder Gianluca Busio did not feature after injuring his ankle in the Italian side’s promotion playoffs earlier this month. His status remains unknown for the Olympics.
“Since we started this process eight months ago, this was, I would say, the lowest performance by far that we had,” Mitrovic said. “I strongly believe that this group can do much better than they showed today.”
“Obviously, it wasn’t the game that we wanted to end kind of this journey on going into the Olympics,” said American midfielder Paxten Aaronson. “The guys know that one game doesn’t define us.”
The Americans final roster for the tournament is due by July 3 and will max out at 18 players. Three of those 18 selections can be over the age of 23-years-old.
Hosts France will oppose the U.S. in both nations’ first match before the Americans also take on New Zealand and Guinea in group stage play.
