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U.S. ties Colombia 1-1 on Luis Gil goal in first leg of Olympic-qualifying playoff

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.