U.S. under-23 squad manages draw at Colombia in first leg of Olympic playoff

Luis Gil scored early and the United States under-23 team held on for a 1-1 draw at Colombia in the first leg of the Olympic qualifying playoff on Friday.

With the final spot at the Summer Games on the line in the two-legged series, the U.S. maintained its hopes ahead of the second leg in Frisco, Texas, on Tuesday.

It was 91 degrees with 60 percent humidly when the game kicked off in late afternoon in Barranquilla, and the Americans wore new black uniforms in the heat.

The U.S. took the lead in the fifth minute. Gil started the play with a pass through to Mario Rodriguez, who took the ball to the end line and cut back to the center for Gil to lash home.

But Colombia controlled the majority of possession and nearly equalized 15 minutes later when Andres Roa came inches from turning the ball after a shot to the far post.

Gil had another chance to score in the 27th minute when Jordan Morris drew Colombia keeper Cristian Bonilla out of position, but the Queretaro midfielder couldn't put the ball on target.

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Late in the first half, the U.S. was forced into a change at goalkeeper after Ethan Horvath was involved in a collision after heading the ball out of danger at the edge of his box.

He tried to play on for another five minutes but had to be replaced by Cody Cropper, who was called upon to make multiple saves before the break.

Colombia kept up the high pressure in the second half, though the U.S. came close to scoring in a rare spell of possession when Morris hit the crossbar.

The hosts responded immediately and had a goal ruled out for a foul on Cropper on the goal line.

And Colombia was level a minute later when Kellyn Acosta brought down Rafael Borre in the box and Juan Quintero scored the resulting penalty.

The Americans then defended admirably after Colombia earned corner after corner to see out the draw and give themselves a good chance to qualify with a result in the second leg.

The U.S. is in danger of failing to qualify for consecutive Olympics for the first time since 1960-68; it was forced into the playoff by losing to Honduras last October in the semifinal round of regional CONCACAF qualifying.