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US ties Colombia 1-1 on Gil goal in Olympic playoff 1st leg

Published: 01:56 EST, 26 March 2016 | Updated: 01:56 EST, 26 March 2016

Luis Gil scored in the fifth minute, and the United States held on for a 1-1 tie against Colombia at Barranquilla on Friday in the opener of a two-leg playoff for the final berth in this year's men's Olympic soccer tournament.

In the matchup of under-23 teams. Colombia had 76 percent possession in the first half but didn't break through until Juan Quintero tied it with a penalty kick in the 68th.

The second leg of the total-goals series is Tuesday at Frisco, Texas. 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 qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

United States' Luis Gil, left, is embraced by teammate Matt Polster after scoring his side's first goal against Colombia during a U-23 first leg soccer match qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics at the Roberto Melendez Stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Friday, March 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Ethan Horvath, the starting American goalkeeper, was replaced by Cropper in the 45th minute, about seven andminutes after Horvath cleared the ball with a header just outside the penalty area and collided with Andres Renteria. Cropper was down for an extended period, remained in the game for a short stretch, then came out.

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

The U.S. scored after Horvath passed to Will Trapp, who played the ball to Gil. He sent the wide to Mario Rodriguez, who dribbled to the end line. Rodriguez muscled off Davinson Sanchez and cut the ball back to Gil, who scored with a right-footed shot from just past the penalty spot.

Colombia pinned the U.S. in its own half for much of the game, and the Americans threatened primarily with counterattacks. Jordan Morris, playing with the under-23s rather than joining the national team for Friday's World Cup qualifier at Guatemala, hit the crossbar with a long-range attempt in the 64th minute.

Colombia tied the score after Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir — who worked last year's European Champions League final — called American defender Kellyn Acosta for pulling an arm of Rafael Santos Borre in the area. Quintero slotted the ball to Cropper's right.

United States' goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, left, falls after clashing with Colombia¿s Andres Renteria during a U-23 first leg soccer match qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics at the Roberto Melendez Stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Friday, March 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Colombia¿s Andres Renteria, right, and United States' goalkeeper Ethan Horvath go for the ball during a U-23 first leg soccer match qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics at the Roberto Melendez Stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Friday, March 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Colombia¿s Juan Quintero celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot his team's first goal agains United States during a U-23 first leg soccer match qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics at the Roberto Melendez Stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Friday, March 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

United States' goalkeeper Cody Cropper, right, fails to block Colombia¿s Juan Quintero from scoring from the penalty spot during a U-23 first leg soccer match qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics at the Roberto Melendez Stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Friday, March 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

United States' Mario Rodriguez, right, and Colombia¿s Davinson Sanchez go for a header during a U-23 first leg soccer match qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics at the Roberto Melendez Stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, Friday, March 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)