Mihailović’s stunner seals USMNT’s spot in quarter-finals at Paris Olympics

The USMNT reached the knockout rounds of the Paris Olympics, advancing to the quarterfinals with a comfortable 3-0 win over Guinea on Tuesday. It is the first time they have reached the last eight of the tournament since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

In a virtually empty Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, midfielder Đorđe Mihailović opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a curling free kick from the edge of the penalty area.

Kevin Paredes scored two goals at either end of the first half to help the US end its 24-year wait to reach the knockout stages.

The left winger scored his first after a quick run down the right, firing the ball past goalkeeper Soumaïla Sylla in the 31st minute. He tagged in a second in the 75th minute, dig at home a cross from fullback Jack McGlynn. The two goals make Paredes the first American male player to score twice in an Olympic match since Rick Davis in 1984.

After losing their opening match to favorites France, the U.S. were much better in their next two group games, beating New Zealand 4-1 and closing with their most complete performance of the tournament in the sweltering heat against Guinea.

The U.S. finished second in Group A behind France, which defeated New Zealand 3-0 on Tuesday. Next up in the quarterfinals is Morocco, which the U.S. faces on Friday in Paris.