LAS VEGAS, Nev. (June 18, 2023) –The U.S. men's national team won the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League title with a 2-0 victory over Canada at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday evening. Center back Chris Richards and forward Folarin Balogun became the first and second players to score their first international goals in a final, with both first-half goals assisted by midfielder Gio Reyna, as the USMNT won its third straight Concacaf tournament claimed, contributing to the 2021 Nations. 2021 League and Gold Cup titles.
Captain and striker Christian Pulisic was named the best player of the tournament and goalkeeper Matt Turner won the award for best goalkeeper. Striker Ricardo Pepi finished level with Canada's Jonathan David with four goals in the tournament.
Head coach B.J. Callaghan played the USMNT's youngest starting XI in a tournament final, with an average age of just under 24 years old and with seven players aged 23 or younger.
Despite their youth, veteran defensem*n Walker Zimmerman and Turner made key plays early, setting the tone for another dominant and exciting performance. Seven minutes later, Zimmerman found himself high in the penalty area and took a cross from the left at the top of the penalty area and made one left-footed volley at a pace that went narrowly wide. Seconds later, Turner made the first of four solid saves to deny an attempt by forward Cyle Larin.
Meanwhile, Reyna and winger Tim Weah were causing Canada problems with their speed and attacking ability. Shortly after Weah almost made contact with Pulisic at the near post, Reyna delivered a corner in the 12th.eminute when Richards headed in from seven yards out for his first career goal.
While the US looked sharp on attack, Canada held their ground and kept possession for long periods of time.
Just after the half-hour mark, Reyna Balogun set up the US's second goal as the forward made her mark with power, hitting a first-time shot from close range for her first USMNT goal in just her second game.
Turner maintained the two-goal advantage with diving saves from Alphonso Davies shots at the near post and Stephen Eustáquio's rip from 22 yards out. Moments later, a long ball from Turner was inadvertently headed back by defender Scott Kennedy, but goalkeeper Milan Borjan reacted to prevent the own goal.
In the 55th minute, Richards played high on a set piece when a second chance ball headed towards goal. Richards outwitted Canada's defenders and headed a dangerous ball that Borjan tipped over the crossbar. The subsequent corner fell to Balogun, who turned from four yards out and fired a shot past Borjan, but Kennedy blocked it from the goal line. The rebound fell to Yunus Musah whose shot was saved by Borjan.
Canada pressed hard for most of the second half, but were unable to break the controlled and coordinated US backline.
GOAL
VS - Chris Richards (Gio Reyna), 12e minuut: Tim Weah had just beaten his man and played a dangerous ball to the near post for Christian Pulisic which was blocked at the last second. Reyna stepped to the corner and delivered a cross from just outside the six-yard box to which Richards sprang up and headed the ball back into the center of the goal, evading Borjan as his momentum had taken him to the right.VS 1, KAN 0
VS - Folarin Balogun (Gio Reyna), 34th minute: Reyna played two roles in the goal: first he headed a cleared ball towards Weah, who quickly headed the ball back to Reyna. Reyna moved forward and when she saw Balogun holding his line with a man on his back, she played the forward but smart ball to the right. Balogun shielded the ball and fired first-time right-footed towards the near post, beating Borjan for his first international goal.VS 2, KAN 0
Additional comments:
- This marked the ninth time the USMNT won a trophy in a tournament final. The team won both editions of the Concacaf Nations League in 2021 and 2023, as well as seven Concacaf Gold Cups in 1991, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2021.
- With an average age of 23 years and 314 days, the starting XI is the youngest to be used by the USMNT in a tournament final, surpassing the previous milestone of 24 years, 207 days after winning the 2021 Concacaf Nations League final against Mexico. The starting
- Chris Richards became the first USMNT player to score his first international goal in a final when he nodded in a Gio Reyna corner kick in the 12th minute. Folarin Balogun became the second player to score his first international goal in a final when he finished a feed from Reyna in the 34th minute.
- Twenty-year-old Reyna collected his second and third assists of his career with the two goals in the first half. With his second assist on the opening goal in the 2021 CNL final against Mexico, Reyna now has four assists in his two tournament finals, passing Clint Dempsey (1 goal, 2 assists) and Landon Donovan (3 goals) for the most. History of the USMNT. Reyna also became the first player in team history to appear in two finals before his 21st birthday.
- Matt Turner made four saves and earned his 19th clean sheet in his 28th game overall. The shutout was also his 15th in official competition, moving him past Brad Guzan into sole possession of third place in competitive shutouts among USMNT goaltenders. He is now only behind Kasey Keller (34) and Tim Howard (29).
- After the match, Christian Pulisic was named 'Best Player' of the Concacaf Nations League and Matt Turner took home the award for Best Goalkeeper. This was Turner's second accolade as he also won the trophy after the 2021 Gold Cup.
- The line-up averaged 26 international matches and 17 in official competitions.
- BJ Callaghan made three changes to the squad heading into Thursday's semi-final against Mexico, bringing in defenders Joe Scally for Sergiño Dest (suspended), Brenden Aaronson for Weston McKennie (suspended) and Walker Zimmerman for Miles Robinson (knee injury). hamstrings).
- Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna and Joe Scally became the first trio of 20-year-olds to start a final for the USMNT.
- Nine of the USMNT starting eleven were aged 25 and under: Antonee Robinson (25), Christian Pulisic (24), Chris Richards and Tim Weah (23), Brenden Aaronson (22), Folarin Balogun (21), Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna and Joe Scally (20).
- Christian Pulisic captained the USMNT for the 16th time, making his third appearance in a final.
- This marked the USMNT's fifth consecutive appearance in a Concacaf final: the 2017, 2019, 2021 Gold Cup finals and the 2021 and 2023 Concacaf Nations League finals.
- With four goals each, substitute Ricardo Pepi moved level with Canada's Jonathan David for the 2022/23 Concacaf Nations League Golden Boot. However, David kept the tiebreaker over Pepi by collecting two assists.
- The U.S. has a 17-10-12 lead in the all-time series against Canada and is 10-8-5 against Les Rouges in competitive games.
-US. GENTLEMENNATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT
Agreement:US Men's National Team vs. Canada
Datum:June 18, 2023
Competition:Concacaf Nations League; Finale
Meeting point:Allegiant-stadion, Las Vegas
Presence:35.000
Kick-off:8:30 PM ET (5:30 PM local)
Weather:95 degrees; windy
Summary of results: 1 2 F
VS 2 0 2
CAN 0 0 0
VS – Chris Richards (Gio Reyna)12. minutes
VS – Folarin Balogun (Gio Reyna) 34
Setups:
UNITED STATES:1-Matt Turner; 19-Joe Scally (23-Auston Trusty, 79), 3-Walker Zimmerman, 4-Chris Richards, 5-Antonee Robinson; 11-Brenden Aaronson (15-Johnny Cardoso, 68), 6-Yunus Musah, 7-Gio Reyna (14-Luke van de Toren, 46); 21-Tim Weah, 20-Folarin Balogun (96-Ricardo Pepi), 10-Christian Pulisic (captain)
Substitutes not used: 13-Drake Callender, 18-Sean Johnson, 12-Miles Robinson, 16-Alan Soñora, 17-Alex Zendejas, 22-Taylor Booth
Bretels: 2-Sergiño Dest, 8-Weston McKennie
Head coach: B.J. Callaghan
BE ABLE TO:18-Milan Borjan; 2-Alistair Johnston, 23-Scott Kennedy, 4-Kamal Miller; 22-Richie Laryea, 8-Ismaël Koné, 7-Stephen Eustáquio (10-David Junior Hoilett, 89), 19-Alphonso Davies; 20-Jonathan David, 21-Jonathan Osorio, 17-Cyle Larin (9-Lucas Cavallini, 76)
Subs not used: 1-Dayne St. Clair, 16-Tom McGill, 3-Samuel Adekugbe, 5-Steven Victoria, 6-Dominick Zator, 11-Tajon Buchanan, 12-Victor Loturi, 13-Atiba Hutchinson, 15-David Wotherspoon
Head coach: John Herdman
Statistical surveillance: US/CAN
Shot: 15/12
Shots on target: 7/4
Saves: 4/5
Corner: 8/5
Crimes: 16/15
Offside: 0/1
Summary of misconduct:
CAN – Scott Kennedy (let op) 15eminutes
CAN – Richie Laryea (note) 45+4
VS – Johnny Cardoso (let op) 80
VS – Matt Turner (let op) 81
Civil servants:
Referee: Saïd Martinez (HON)
Assistant 1: Walter Lopez (HON)
Assistant 2: Christian Ramirez (HON)
Vierde official: Selvin Brown (HON)
VAR: Ricardo Montero (CRC)
VAR-assistant: Benjamin Pineda (CRC)
American Football Insiders Man of the Match:Gio Reyna
