the 2000 summer olympics in sydney, australia marked a significant turnaround in the fortunes of the team. this time, the united states, led by head coach clive charles, won their group on goal difference on the strength of draws with the czech republic and eventual-gold medalists cameroon and a win over kuwait. a tense quarterfinal match against japan ended in a penalty shoot-out which the united states won. losses to spain in the semifinals and chile in the bronze medal match left the americans short of medal dreams, but the fourth-place finish in a sixteen-team tournament was the program's greatest youth team.