Watch: USMNT scores first Olympic goal in 16 years

Team USA's Djordje Mihailovic. Sipa Press

Watch: U.S. men's soccer team scores first Olympic goal in 16 years

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Jul 27, 2024 3:10 PM ET

It's taken four Olympic cycles, but the U.S. men's soccer team finally made its triumphant return in the event.

In their second group-stage match Saturday against New Zealand, the U.S. men scored the team's first Olympic goal in 16 years.

Djordje Mihailovic put an eighth-minute penalty kick into the back of the net to put the U.S. up 1-0 early.

Djordje Mihailovic scores the United States men's first Olympic goal in 16 years to take the lead over New Zealand! #ParisOlympics

USA Network and Peacock pic.twitter.com/3LlxnYW8xA
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 27, 2024

The Beijing Games in 2008 were the last time a U.S. men's team appeared at an Olympics. That squad failed to qualify out of the group stage.

Just four minutes after Mihailovic's penalty kick, Walker Zimmerman — the oldest player on the team — doubled the U.S.'s lead with a tap-in after a chaotic free-kick scramble.

IT’S TWO.

The United States are off to a flying start against New Zealand. #ParisOlympics
USA Network and Peacock pic.twitter.com/5EuQ33jiRV
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 27, 2024

In its first group-stage match Wednesday, the U.S. was thumped 3-0 by hosts France.

The team avenged that loss Saturday, finishing off New Zealand 4-1. It was the first time ever that the U.S. men scored four goals in an Olympic match.

Austen Bundy

Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area

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