United States 2-0 Mexico (Mar 24, 2024) Game Analysis

The United States males’s nationwide soccer group continued its dominance of the Concacaf Nations League — and its regional rivals Mexico — with a 2-0 win and a 3rd title in a row within the competitors at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday evening.

Tyler Adams scored a first-half thunderbolt, and Giovanni Reyna added a second objective after the break with a troublesome volley to provide the U.S. the win with a well-known “dos a cero” scoreline and a measure of redemption after an uninspired win over Jamaica within the semifinals of the Nations League on Thursday.

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“I’m not scoring goals like that all the time, but I’m happy I can hit one like that today,” mentioned Adams, who was substitute at halftime as a precautionary measure.

Adams, who has simply returned from harm to play along with his membership group Bournemouth, added: “I always get up for big games.”

The consequence sees Gregg Berhalter’s group retain its Nations League crown, having gained the primary two editions of the competitors, in 2021 and 2023, and stretch its unbeaten run towards Mexico to a document seven video games.

Adams, making his first begin for the U.S. in 475 days, turned the sport on its head on the finish of the primary half, unleashing a shocking strike from distance to beat Guillermo Ochoa and provides the Americans a slender lead at half-time.

“People have a lot of question marks about this, about that,” Adams mentioned. “But to see what we do week in, week out when we have the opportunity to work together, we continue to grow.”

With Mexico combating to get again within the sport, Reyna pounced on a poor clearance within the penalty space and snapped off a volley that flew previous Ochoa at his close to submit to double the U.S. lead.

Referee Drew Fischer halted the sport shortly earlier than full time then once more in added time in keeping with Step 2 of Concacaf’s anti-discrimination protocol after an anti-gay chant was heard from the gang repeatedly when U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner took his objective kicks.

Last yr’s Nations League semifinal between the U.S. and Mexico in Las Vegas was ended about 4 minutes early due to chants from Mexican followers, who for years have directed a slur at opposing groups’ goalkeepers.

Troubled by a proper hamstring harm that twice required surgical procedure, Adams had not performed for the U.S. because the 2022 World Cup earlier than coming into within the 63rd minute on Thursday then leaving within the one centesimal minute due to a minutes restriction.

He was restricted to a single 21-minute membership look between March 11, 2023, and this March 13, when he returned from the harm with a 20-minute stretch for Bournemouth towards Luton Town in England’s Premier League.

Adams’ joined Josh Wolff as the one Americans prior to now 40 years to attain their first two targets towards El Tri; Adams additionally scored in a pleasant towards Mexico in September 2018.

Still on a minutes restrict, Adams was changed by Johnny Cardoso firstly of Sunday’s second half.

“Typical Tyler, we get into an argument in the locker room and he wants to play more. Guys are asking why can’t he play more?” Berhalter mentioned. “As much as I wanted him in the game, because I did, it’s a safety thing. We want to make sure that he gets back in a healthy way because he has a lot more games to play.”

Berhalter had agreed to the minutes restrict with Bournemouth. Adams mentioned he in all probability can be restricted to 60 minutes this weekend when he returns to play along with his membership.

“Coming out at halftime was obviously disappointing, especially after scoring a goal and helping the team,” Adams mentioned. “So, yeah, I understand we have to be smart for the long-term plan.”

Reyna, restricted to at least one league begin this season for Borussia Dortmund and Nottingham Forest, scored his eighth worldwide objective. Christian Pulisic’s cross was blocked by defender Johan Vásquez. The ball deflected off American ahead Haji Wright again to Vásquez, who headed a clearance try. Reyna let the ball bounce and beat Ochoa to the close to submit from 16 yards.

“It’s good for momentum,” Reyna mentioned. “We’ve been together with our core group for a while now and I think we know what it takes to win big games and tournaments and hopefully we can carry that in Copa America and have a great run there.”

Fischer initially awarded a penalty kick for a problem by Antonee Robinson on Santiago Giménez shortly after the Reyna objective. But following a video evaluate by Nicaragua’s Tatiana Guzmán, the pinnacle referee known as off the foul and gave the ahead a yellow card for simulation.

Berhalter made 5 adjustments from Thursday’s beginning lineup within the 3-1 extra-time win towards Jamaica, including proper again Sergiño Dest, central defender Tim Ream, midfielders Adams and Reyna, and ahead Wright. They changed Joe Scally, Miles Robinson, Yunus Musah, Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun.

Mexico coach Jaime Lozano inserted proper again Jorge Sánchez and ahead Hirving Lozano for Julián Araujo and Julián Quiñones.

Both the United States and Mexico will now start gearing up for this summer time’s Copa America, which can be performed within the U.S. from June 20 to July 14. Beyond that, they will be waiting for the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

“Before we know it, 2026 is going to be here,” Berhalter mentioned.

Jamaica beat Panama 1-0 within the third-place sport on Dexter Lembikisa’s Forty first-minute objective.

Information from The Associated Press was used on this story.