The U-23 United States Men’s National Team entered Tuesday facing a two-part challenge to earn a spot in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
Step one of that challenge was met with a resounding 2-0 victory over Canada in the third-place match of the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament at Rio Tinto Stadium. The win moved the U.S. into a winner-take-all playoff game in March 2016, pitting the Americans against Colombia for the right to compete in the Olympics.
Chicago Fire midfielder Matt Polster provided his fourth 90-minute performance in five outings for the U.S., starting at outside back and contributing to the clean sheet.
At RFK Stadium, the site of the Chicago Fire’s upcoming road match at D.C. United, David Accam earned a place in the Starting XI and went the distance for Ghana as the Black Stars played Canada to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly.
Both Joevin Jones and Daneil Cyrus wrapped up their own international duty by playing a full 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw between Trinidad and Tobago and Nicaragua.
All four players are expected to return to Chicago Fire training this week in advance of Sunday’s trip to D.C. United.
