United States wins the Nations League for the third time in a row
over Mexico.
AT&T Stadium; Arlington, Texas (TT)
The United States defeated Mexico 2-0 on Sunday night to
win the CONCACAF Nations League for the third time in a row. Tyler Adams scored
from approximately 35 yards in his first start for club or country in more than
a year, and Gio Reyna added a goal in the second half.
In the 45th minute, Adams gave the United States the lead after receiving a
feed from Weston McKennie. He then took a touch and curled a shot that narrowly
missed diving custodian Guillermo Ochoa's right glove.
After providing two assists in extra time during Thursday's semifinal victory
over Jamaica, Reyna added a goal in the 63rd minute.
After a loss in September 2019, the United States has won
five of its previous games versus Mexico to extend its winning streak to seven.
Referee Drew Fischer, a Canadian, twice suspended the game due to homophobic
shouts from the predominantly pro-Mexican crowd of 59,471 at AT&T Stadium.
Six minutes into stoppage time, he again stopped play, which he restarted after
a four and a half-minute break. After fifteen minutes, play resumed.
U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams
celebrates with Christian Pulisic and other teammates after scoring during the
first half of a 2-0 victory over Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League final
Sunday.
Chants from Mexican supporters, who have for years yelled
obscenities at the goalkeepers of other teams, caused the Nations League
semifinal in Las Vegas to halt roughly four minutes early last year.
Adams had not played for the United States since the 2022 World Cup due to a
right hamstring ailment that twice required surgery. He entered the game on
Thursday in the 63rd minute and left in the 100th due to a minute’s
restriction.
Between March 11, 2023, and this past March 13, when he made his Premier League
comeback for Bournemouth against Luton, he was only able to play for 21 minutes
with the team.
Adams and Josh Wolff are the only Americans to have scored
their first two goals against El Tri in the last forty years. In September
2018, Adams added another goal in a friendly match against Mexico.
At the beginning of the second half, Johnny Cardoso took Adams' position as he
was still within his minutes.
Reyna, who has only made one league start this year for Nottingham Forest and
Borussia Dortmund, scored his seventh goal for his country. Johan Vásquez, a
defender, blocked Christian Pulisic's cross. Haji Wright, an American attacker,
diverted the ball, returning it to Vásquez, who headed a clearing effort. Reyna
let the ball bounce and from 16 yards out beat Ochoa to the near post.
The Mexican fans in Arlington took up the
discriminatory cry against the United States
When Antonee Robinson challenged Santiago Giménez,
Fischer originally gave him a penalty kick. However, after Tatiana Guzmán of
Nicaragua reviewed the footage, Fischer cancelled the foul and issued the
forward a yellow card for simulation.
The 38-year-old captain of Mexico, Ochoa, played in his 150th international
match. The Dallas Cowboys' temporary grass strips on the field had seams
evident.
After the 3-1 victory over Jamaica in extra time on
Thursday, U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter made five changes to the starting lineup.
He brought on right back Sergiño Dest, centre defence Tim Ream, midfielders
Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna, and striker Haji Wright. They took the places of
Folarin Balogun, Malik Tillman, Yunus Musah, Joe Scally, and Miles Robinson.
Major League Soccer players did not start.
Jaime Lozano, the coach of Mexico, substituted Julián Araujo and Julián
Quiñones with right back Jorge Sánchez and forward Hirving Lozano.
Dexter Lembikisa's goal in the 41st minute gave Jamaica a 1-0 victory over
Panama in the third-place match.
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