(Jessica Hopp, The Tennessean, 03.24.08)

NASHVILLE — In five Olympic qualifying tournament games, the United States’ under-23 men’s soccer team allowed two goals.

The one Sunday got the better of them in overtime.

Honduras claimed the championship with a 1-0 score in the 103rd minute at LP Field in front of 12,663 fans.

Although the Americans finished second, they were quick to point out the team accomplished what it came to do — advance to the 2008 Olympics.

“No one likes to lose,” U.S. forward Jozy Altidore said. “But at the end of the day, you have to look at the bigger picture. We have so many bigger things ahead of us.”

The United States and Honduras earned berths to the Beijing Games by winning their semifinal matches against Canada and Guatemala, respectively, on Thursday.

The victories set up a rematch of an earlier tournament game during which the Americans won 1-0 to take the top spot in Group A play.

On Sunday, the teams were deadlocked 0-0 after 90 minutes of play. Unlike the third-place game between Canada and Guatemala, which went straight to a shootout after a regulation tie, the championship included two 15-minute overtime periods.

In the final two minutes of the first overtime, Honduras’ Marvin Sanchez settled a cross and fed it to Georgie Wilson just outside the semicircle at the top of the penalty box. After one quick move, Wilson unleashed a shot that sailed underneath the crossbar near the right corner of the goal.

It was the first goal the Americans had given up since the first half of their tournament opener against Cuba. That game ended in a 1-1 tie.

Honduras also allowed just one goal heading into the championship game — a penalty kick by the United States’ Eddie Gaven on March 15.

With four U.S. players, including the tournament’s leading scorer Freddy Adu, already back overseas with their club teams, Sunday allowed Coach Peter Nowak to evaluate other talent.

Although the Olympic roster does not have to be finalized until days before the Olympics, Nowak said he will keep his eye on the players who participated in this tournament — may of whom will be in the running for the team.

“The selection process didn’t finish on Thursday,” Nowak said.