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% 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.