Chris Richards and Folarin Balogun sealed the winning goals for the USA.
Canada spared no desire or effort and kept trying until the end
The United States team beat Canada 0-2 with authority this Sunday and revalidated the title of the Concacaf Nations League which he won in 2021.
After sweeping Mexico in the semifinals 3-0, the US also clearly won the final in Las Vegas (USA) to a Canadian team that conceded both goals before the break and that lacked aim in the rival area.
The team that Christian Pulisic leads in the field will arrive with extra momentum at the Gold Cup that will begin next week, where he also defends the title, and in which BJ Callaghan will continue as interim coach despite the fact that the US Soccer Federation. (USSF) announced this Friday that Gregg Berhalter will return as selector.
Chris Richards and Folarin Balogun sealed the winning goals for the USA.both from a pass from a Gio Reyna who shone in the last third of the field but left injured at half-time.
This is the third consecutive Concacaf crown (two Nations League and one Gold Cup) for a USA that continues to grow in the world of soccer and that He has his sights set on the 2026 World Cup that it will organize together with Mexico and Canada.
At Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, both teams entered the final with news regarding their semifinal matches.
In Canada, the main one was the incorporation into the starting eleven of its great star, Alphonso Davies, who against Panama only came on as a shock in the second half since he was dragging some discomfort.
For its part, the US team he had to find a forced replacement for Weston McKennie and Sergiño Destwho were sent off against Mexico and who were replaced by Brenden Aaronson and Joe Scally, respectively.
The set of stars and stripes hit the table at the start.
With great pressure suffocating Canada and excellent mobility from their top four men, the USA imposed their law early on and almost got the first in the 8th minute with a fantastic splice from the edge of the Walker Zimmerman box which went a little off course.
Four minutes later, it was the other US centre-back, Richards, who scored the USA’s first goal with a header from Reyna’s corner.
It took Canada to find its game and it was little by little stretching in search of the equalizer.
However, the US dominance in the first half was rewarded again in the 34th minute when Balogun scored his first goal for the team.
The striker indicated to Reyna with his arm where he should filter the pass, the Borussia Dortmund attacker reciprocated him with a perfect assist to the hole and Balogun shot the Canadian goalkeeper to make it 0-2.
After the break, Canada went on offense with more will than ideas.
But The US continued to carry more danger in its attacksso much so that he touched the third with a double chance at 55 when Richards sent the ball to the crossbar and Balogun hooked a rebound that did not go in because Scott Kennedy miraculously took the ball out on the goal line.
Although he did not find the way to the net, Canada spared no desire or effort and kept trying until the endfirst with a long shot from Jonathan David, then with a ‘death pass’ from Davies that no teammate was able to finish off, and then with a double chance in the heart of the box that Cyle Larin wasted.
Despite this, The USA held their ground on defense and ended up lifting the trophy.
– Data sheet:
0. Canada: Milan Borjan; Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston (Tajon Buchanan, m. 60), Scott Kennedy (Steven Vitória, m. 61), Kamal Miller, Jonathan Osorio (Sam Adekugbe, m. 61); Stephen Eustáquio (Junior Hoilett, d. 89), Ismael Koné; Cyle Larin (Lucas Cavallini, d. 76), Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies.
Coach: John Herdman.
2. United States: Matt Turner; Joe Scally (Auston Trusty, d. 79), Walker Zimmerman, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson; Yunus Musah, Brenden Aaronson (Johnny Cardoso, d. 68); Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna (Luca de la Torre, m. 46), Tim Weah; Folarin Balogun (Ricardo Pepi, d. 76).
Coach: BJ Callaghan (interim manager).
Goals: 0-1, m. 12:Richards; 0-2, m. 34: Balogun.
Referee: Said Martinez (Honduras). He admonished Kennedy and Laryea in Canada and Cardoso and Turner in the US.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the final of the Concacaf Nations League played at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (USA).