World Cup qualifying setback for U.S. with loss to leader Canada
The United States stumbled on the road for the fourth time in five qualifiers but remains on track to return to the World Cup if it wins its remaining two home games after Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Canada in Hamilton, Ontario.
CONCACAF qualifying leader Canada beat the U.S. for just the second time in 37 years on goals by Cyle Larin and Sam Adekugbe to take another big step toward reaching the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
On a sunny, 25-degree afternoon, Larin scored for unbeaten Canada seven minutes in, taking advantage of a short goal kick by Matt Turner for his 12th goal of the qualifying cycle. Sam Adekugbe dribbled through the American defense and beat Turner from long range in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time for his first international goal.
The U.S. outshot Canada 7-2 in the first half and 13-8 overall, including a Weston McKennie header in the 42nd minute that Milan Borjan saved off his crossbar. Borjan came up big again to deny Brenden Aaronson’s low drive in the 59th.
“It’s hard for me to remember a performance away from home this dominant without getting a result,” U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter said after the game, a remark that drew scorn on social and traditional media.
The U.S hosts Honduras on Wednesday night in what could be sub-zero temperatures at St. Paul, Minn. The other U.S. home game is against Panama in Orlando on March 27.
Mexico moved into a tie with the U.S. for second place after a scoreless draw with Costa Rica, and fourth-place Panama picked up points with a 3-2 win over Jamaica. The top three nations qualify for this year’s tournament in Qatar, and fourth place advances to a playoff against the Oceania champion, likely New Zealand.
Captain Tyler Adams, one of only two Americans to appear in every qualifier, came out in the 67th minute with a strained right hamstring. Chris Richards injured a foot, forcing the U.S. to finish with 10 men, and Walker Zimmerman was held out with a hamstring injury. Africa: The biggest names of African soccer are on course to meet in their continent’s biggest game. Mohamed Salah’s Egypt and Sadio Mane’s Senegal reached the African Cup of Nations semifinals. One more win for both teams will see the Liverpool pair meet in the final.
Salah scored the equalizer and created the winner to inspire Egypt’s comeback to beat Morocco 2-1 after extra time in the day’s first quarterfinal. Mane set up Famara Diedhiou for Senegal’s opener in a 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea.
Senegal plays Burkina Faso in the first semifinal Wednesday; Egypt faces tournament host Cameroon on Thursday. Hall of Fame: Clint Dempsey, Hope Solo and Shannon Boxx were among six people elected to the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame. Marco Etcheverry, Linda Hamilton and Esse Baharmast also were voted in and will be inducted May 21 at the Hall in Frisco, Texas.
Rape accusation: Manchester United player Mason Greenwood was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault after a woman posted visual and audio allegations on social media of an incident. United said the 20-year-old forward “will not return to training or play matches until further notice.”