Americans let one get away against the Netherlands

By Grahame L. Jones, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Poised on the brink of an unexpected place in the quarterfinals of the Olympic men's soccer tournament, the U.S. looked down, blinked, suffered vertigo and fell.

Instead of a one-goal victory over the Netherlands in Tianjin, China, on Sunday, the Americans came away with a 2-2 tie after giving up a goal with seconds left.

So, while medal favorites Argentina, Brazil and Italy each advanced to the final eight with victories Sunday, the U.S. was left with a decisive third match against Nigeria on Wednesday in Beijing.

The Americans have to either tie or defeat the Nigerians or they will be on the next flight home. Yet they played well enough in the second half Sunday to deserve a spot in the knockout phase, coming back from a goal down to take the lead, only to throw it all away.

It was a cruel lesson learned, and no one took it harder than Coach Peter Nowak.

Americans let one get away against the Netherlands....