( CNN ) -- The United States men 's Olympic soccer team had its hopes dashed Monday night after a dramatic late goal killed its chances of going to London . A goal in the 95th minute , during stoppage time , pulled El Salvador to a 3-3 tie and knocked the U.S. team out of qualifying contention . A victory would have put the U.S. for Saturday 's semifinals as winner of Group A in the CONCACAF region tournament . It is the second time the U.S. failed to qualify for the Olympics since 1976 , according to the U.S. soccer team website , having also missed out in 2004 . The last time the El Salvador men 's team made it to the Olympics was in 1968 . The Central American side finished top of the group on goal difference from Canada , which conceded a late equalizer in Monday 's 1-1 draw with Cuba and will now play the winner of the other pool on Saturday . The U.S. team got out to a quick lead in Nashville when forward Terrence Boyd scored a goal inside the first minute , but El Salvador stormed back scoring two goals in the 35th and 38th minutes through Lester Blanco and Andres Flores . The Americans regained the lead with quickfire goals in the 65th and 68th minutes from Boyd and Joe Corona , but could not hold on . El Salvador 's Jaime Alas blasted a shot from some 25 yards out with about one minute left in the match , and the ball bounced off the hands of goalkeeper Sean Johnson before darting into the goal . The El Salvador players celebrated while some U.S. players fell to the pitch , inconsolable . `` It 's a painful moment . The players are devastated . To put in as much as they put in that game , the amount of heart they put in , to play the way they played in that second half to come from behind and score two goals , to be seconds away from getting the No . 1 seed , it 's unimaginable , '' said head coach Caleb Porter . Mexico also qualified for Saturday 's semifinals in Kansas City after beating Honduras 3-0 and should qualify top of Group B by winning Tuesday 's final game against Panama . Panama must win to stop second-placed Honduras going through -- a win against Trinidad and Tobago will ensure the latter 's progress . The two nations that reach Monday 's final will both go to London 2012 .
A win in El Salvador would have qualified the El Salvador team for the semifinals . `` It 's a painful moment , '' U.S. coach CONCACAF says after 3-3 draw . Canada finishes top of group on goal difference ahead of Canada . It is the 95th time the U.S. failed to qualify for the Olympics since 1976 .