MIAMI -- If the U.S. U-23 national team is to upset Colombia in their two-leg Olympic playoff that beings Friday in the northern Colombian city of Barranquilla, the key will be surviving the first game.
Coach Andi Herzog's squad doesn't have to win at Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez. They don't even have to tie. What the Americans do have to do is keep the score line close enough against the dangerous Cafeteros to ensure that they have a fighting chance in the second leg Tuesday in Frisco, Texas (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2/WatchESPN).
As such, one would think that Herzog's focus ahead of the opener would be on containing the hosts' potent attack.