USMNT Recap: United States 2 - Mexico 0
USMNT Recap: United States 2 - Mexico 0
The U.S captures its third-straight Nations League title in victory over arch rivals Mexico. Turner and Reyna take home personal honors.
Gregg Berhalter and the United States Men’s National Team returned to action Sunday evening as they squared off against Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League Final inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Berhalter made three changes from the lineup that defeated Jamaica in the last match. Former Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner got the nod in goal behind the back line of Antonee Robinson, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, and Sergiño Dest. Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Gio Reyna were in the midfield behind the attacking trio of Christian Pulisic, Haji Wright, and Timothy Weah.
The U.S. offense got rolling in the fifth minute after a series of flicks led the ball to the feet of Pulisic inside the box. The Milan forward attempted to slot the ball past Memo Ochoa yards out from goal, but Ochoa came up big to make the stop and kept the game level.
Mexico nearly found the opening goal in the 24th minute when Henry Martín sent the ball forward to Uriel Antuna. Thankfully for the USMNT, Adams was there to apply pressure to dispossess Antuna and end the dangerous chance.
McKennie received the game’s first booking as referee Drew Fischer handed him a yellow card in the 27th minute after the Juventus midfielder had to commit a foul on Chucky Lozano to end Mexico’s counterattack opportunity.
A quick throw-in nearly led to Dest finding the back of the net from distance in the 38th minute. After getting the ball, Dest displayed some devious footwork as he evaded not one, not two, but three defenders as he rocketed a shot from distance but his shot lacked accuracy as it sailed out for a goal kick.
Just as it looked like both sides were going into the locker room deadlocked at zero, Adams decided to change that. After Weston McKennie got the ball on the left flank, Adams frantically called for the ball. McKennie obliged and Adams got on the ball and rocketed a shot to the upper-right corner and into the net to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead heading into the locker room.
There was one change at half as Johnny Cardoso came on for Adams, who was on a minutes restriction as he slowly returns from a hamstring injury.
A poor turnover from Johan Vásquez nearly led to the United States doubling its lead in the 55th minute as Weah got onto the ball and pushed toward Mexico’s goal. Vásquez had to take Weah down just outside the box to end the chance as Vásquez entered Fischer’s book with a yellow card.
A dangerous tackle from Edeson Álverez led to him receiving a yellow card in the 58th minute. The tackle was bad enough to get Gregg Berhalter walking onto the pitch to check in on McKennie while giving Álverez and Fischer his two cents on the tackle.
Uriel Antuna received a yellow card in the 63rd minute after chopping down an advancing Reyna.
Pulisic generated a scoring chance in the 63rd minute as he drove down the left flank and crossed the ball centrally. Pulisic’s ball pinballed before being headed away but Reyna was at the right place at the right time as he got onto the headed clearance and drilled the ball into the bottom-left corner past Ochoa to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead.
Another change came for the United States in the 66th minute as Folarin Balogun came on for Haji Wright.
Fortune swayed in Mexico’s favor in the 72nd minute as a loose ball in the box forced Robinson to take a swing with Santiago Gimenez in front of him. Gimenez fell to the pitch on the follow-through as Fischer awarded Mexico a penalty.
Mexico’s excitement came to a halt as Fischer was sent to the monitor to review the play. After a few moments, Fischer rescinded the penalty after it was clear Robinson made no contact with Gimenez. Gimenez might not win an Oscar for the flop, but he did win a spot in Fischer’s book as he received a yellow card in the 73rd minute for sisimulation.
There was another change for the U.S. in the 78th minute as Yunus Musah replaced Reyna. Reyna exited the pitch with a brief hug from Gregg Berhalter.
Fischer was forced to halt play in the 88th minute as derogatory chants began to rain down inside AT&T Stadium. As per Concacaf rules, players were brought to the center circle as PA addressers condemned the chant and reminded fans of the code of conduct. Play eventually resumed.
The final two changes came in the second minute of stoppage time as Brendan Aaronson and Malik Tillman replaced Pulisic and Weah.
Fischer again halted play in the final minute of stoppage time as derogatory chants began again. Play eventually resumed, and the final whistle blew shortly after.
It’s a shame a great match between two quality sides had to end in a shameful manner.
Despite the ending, the United States welcomed another trophy to the case as they won their third-straight Concacaf Nations League title. On top of the Nations League trophy, the Gio Reyna and Matt Turner received individual honors. Turner took home Best Keeper honors and Reyna took home Best Player honors.