USA beats Mexico 2-0 for CONCACAF Nations League title
DALLAS: Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams scored as the USA beat Mexico 2-0 in Sunday’s CONCACAF Nations League final, giving the Americans all three titles in the event’s history.
Adams scored a long-distance screamer in the 45th minute and Reyna fired home a loose ball from the edge of the box in the 63rd for the USA, who also won Nations League crowns in 2021 and 2023.
“It never gets old winning titles for your country. I’ll never take any of them for granted,” Reyna said.
“The group of guys and the energy we have, I always love coming to camp. I’m at a loss for words right now.”
“We can hopefully keep the momentum going into Copa America and maybe, lift a trophy there.”
The Mexicans appeared to have a lifeline into the match in the 73rd minute when a penalty was awarded after US defender Antonee Robinson was ruled to have fouled Santiago Gimenez in the penalty area.
But a video review overturned the decision and instead Gimenez was issued a yellow card for simulation, blunting the emotions for a Mexican fightback.
Play was halted in the 86th minute and twice more in stoppage time after Mexican fans yelled discriminatory language, a homophobic insult when the opposing goalkeeper kicked the ball.
When the final whistle finally came, the Americans had captured the crown at Arlington, Texas, on the home field of the NFL’s Dallas
Cowboys.
“Our goal this whole tournament was to advance and then get a chance to play in the final and win the final and we achieved it,” US coach Gregg Berhalter said.
The Americans won both prior CONCACAF Nations League crowns, beating Mexico 3-2 in extra time in the 2021 inaugural championship match, and Canada 2-0 in last year’s final after dispatching Mexico 3-0 in last year’s semifinals.
Mexico still leads the all-time rivalry 37-24 with 17 drawn, but the US men stretched their current unbeaten streak against Mexico in all competitions to a rivalry-best seven matches with five wins and two draws. — AFP