The United States U-23 Men's National Team went into a sweltering Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez in Barranquilla, Colombia, and left with a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the 2016 Olympic Qualifying Playoff. With the 16th and final spot in the Olympics on the line, the U.S. played conservative throughout the match, but it turned out to be the smart and calculated plan.
The U.S. scored the match's first goal against the run of play in the 5th minute. Luis Gil found a streaking Mario Rodriguez out wide, who in turn beat two men and centered the ball for Gil to finish.