USMNT hit with Busio injury blow in Olympic match vs. New Zealand

The U.S. men’s under-23 national team may have to do without Gianluca Busio for the rest of the Olympics.

That outcome seems like a distinct possibility after Busio limped off in the first half of the USA’s match against New Zealand on Saturday.

The midfielder was chasing a long ball down the right sideline when he pulled up with a non-contact injury. Busio was treated on the field and had to be replaced by Jack McGlynn in the 37th minute.

It wasn’t initially clear what the injury was, but typically muscle injuries knock players out for a minimum of 1-2 weeks.

If Busio is out, it would be a major blow for the USA, as the 22-year-old forms a vital part of the team’s central midfielder alongside his club teammate with Venezia, Tanner Tessmann.

Busio’s injury came just seven minutes after he’d scored to put the USA up 3-0 over New Zealand.

The midfielder scored off his own rebound after earlier goals from Djordje Mihailovic and Walker Zimmerman.

The U.S. went on to win the match 4-1 after Paxten Aaronson added a goal in the second half, with Jesse Randall netting a late consolation for New Zealand.

After the match, Busio told reporters that he believed the injury wasn’t “too serious.”

“It’s all right. We’ll see. It’s just the same one I’ve been dealing with for a while. But I don’t think it’s anything too serious,” he said in quotes published by the Washington Post.

After losing to France in its Olympics opener, the U.S. entered Saturday’s game desperately needing to win to keep its hopes at advancement alive.

The U.S. will finish out group play on Tuesday against Guinea. Should they reach the the knockout stage, a quarterfinal would take place on Friday.

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