USMNT vs. Canada: U.S. stumbles again in 2-1 defeat
The U.S. men's national team continued a poor recent run, falling 2-1 to Canada in the Concacaf Nations League third-place match on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
Despite a promising performance from Diego Luna and a goal from Patrick Agyemang, the USMNT struggled to create chances throughout, finishing with a mere five shot attempts. Even with Canada manager Jesse Marsch sent off, the Canadians won the game thanks to strikes from Tani Oluwaseyi and Jonathan David, and had multiple penalty-kick shouts turned away.
Coming on the heels of a massively frustrating 1-0 semifinal loss to Panama, the USMNT received few positive notes in defeat. Gio Reyna finally played, but the Borussia Dortmund man was a peripheral figure, while Mauricio Pochettino's decision to remove Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams in a triple sub may raise eyebrows.
Catch up on Pro Soccer Wire by reading through our minute-by-minute coverage as the USMNT fell to a second loss in what was a miserable international window.
USMNT vs. Canada: Concacaf Nations League highlights
USMNT vs. Canada final score: Canada 2, USA 1
That's the final action of the match, as Canada claims a deserved 2-1 win at SoFi Stadium. The USMNT got some positives out of Diego Luna and some moments where they could have snatched a second goal, but ultimately Sofascore credits them with a grim five shots on the night.
Canada, meanwhile, has its first back-to-back wins over the U.S. since the 1980s, underlining the discouraging direction the USMNT is heading on at the moment.
USMNT vs. Canada: Inevitable scuffle arrives
Gio Reyna and Jacob Shaffelburg aren't happy with one another as they battled for a ball on the touchline, and that results in the minor shoving match this game had somehow avoided until now.
Reyna is booked for sure, and García may have given Shaffelburg a yellow off-screen as well.
USMNT can't bury golden chance
A 90th minute Reyna corner somehow bounces its way through immense traffic before finding Brian White. To be fair to the Vancouver Whitecaps striker, it's a major surprise that this ball ever got to him, and Bombito's lunging challenge might have left White with nowhere to shoot.
In fact, on replay it seems that White and Bombito both made contact with the ball at the same time, resulting in a potential equalizer bounding out of the Canada box instead.
USMNT vs. Canada: St. Clair robs Luna
A U.S. dead ball brought 85th minute danger, as Gio Reyna's service to the back post was met by Mark McKenzie. The Toulouse center back's knockdown was promising, falling to an open Diego Luna, but Dayne St. Clair rushed out to close the angle before blocking Luna's shot up and over the bar.
Meanwhile, Canada makes two substitutions, with Stephen Eustáquio and Jonathan Osorio stepping in for Mathieu Choinière and Ali Ahmed. Those are the last changes either team can make, barring a concussion sub being used in these last seconds.
USMNT makes last substitution
Barring a concussion late on, this will be it for USMNT subs: Brian White has come on up top, replacing Patrick Agyemang.
Agyemang will be pleased to have scored, but the Charlotte FC target man wasn't involved much beyond that. 17 touches for a back-to-goal striker underlines how Canada has really restricted the USMNT to few looks. White's job will be to shift the dynamic, as Canada looks comfortable right now.
USMNT formation after triple sub
(4-3-3): Turner; Fossey, Carter-Vickers, McKenzie, Arfsten; Musah, Tessmann, Reyna; Weah, Agyemang, Luna
This could be pretty interesting from Pochettino, with Luna and Reyna ideally able to get close together and work some combinations. They'll need help from Arfsten, who hasn't been a major attacking threat so far, getting forward to provide width. On the other side, Weah can stretch the field as a right winger, and Fossey is choosing some more aggressive starting positions as well.
It's interesting to see Musah as a right-center midfielder, with Tessmann playing as the lone No. 6. Most likely, the Lyon midfielder's long-range passing and aggressive decision-making is what the U.S. wants in a deeper role as they go more direct to chase this game.
USMNT vs. Canada: U.S. triple sub amid many moments
The U.S. wins a free kick in a great spot, but after much time spent adjusting walls and various players, Pulisic's shot clips the Canada wall and goes behind.
That should be a corner kick, but it appears García has called a U.S. player offside.
Canada follows with two substitutions, as Tajon Buchanan and Tani Oluwaseyi come off for Jacob Shaffelburg and Cyle Larin. Mauricio Pochettino has a triple sub planned, but that is delayed for unclear reasons.
Play continues, Ismael Koné is booked for holding Pulisic for a very long time, but somehow the triple sub is once again denied. Another sequence sees Alistair Johnston down with a painful knock, and finally the USMNT switch comes:
- Out: Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams
- In: Gio Reyna, Tanner Tessmann, Yunus Musah
Video: Marsch melts down during USMNT vs. Canada
Goal Canada! David finally has his goal
It's been a frustrating day for Jonathan David, but he finally gets the goal he's looked likely to score throughout this game.
The 59th-minute finish comes after the USMNT can't really defend a Canada throw-in that well. That's been happening all game on Alistair Johnston's long throws, but this one is short, and it's clinical. Tim Weah nearly cut the danger out by tackling the ball off of Tajon Buchanan, but it zipped straight to Ali Ahmed.
The Vancouver Whitecaps winger quickly passed the ball forward to David, who set himself up for a perfect, curling shot that left Matt Turner with no chance. It's 2-1, and the USMNT has half an hour to salvage this game.
USMNT vs. Canada: Marsch sent off
An odd bounce catches the USMNT back line out at midfield, and David is suddenly in behind.
Max Arfsten is there to pressure him, and though David's cutback sheds the Columbus Crew wingback, he appears to simply slip as well. What could have been a breakaway goal becomes a no-call, and Jesse Marsch has had a meltdown.
Marsch left the Canada technical area, ran through the U.S. area, and even a few yards beyond it to remonstrate with García. Once the VAR check over the call ended with no penalty given — which, on replay, looks correct — the Mexican referee has come over to give Marsch a straight red card.
Marsch then delayed his departure for unclear reasons, waiting about halfway down the touchline, but the red card isn't going away. Marsch has disappeared down the tunnel, with Mauro Biello seemingly stepping in as the head coach for the rest of this game.
USMNT vs. Canada: Canadians want a penalty kick
Tyler Adams and Jonathan David sprint into the area, with the Lille forward trying to round the Bournemouth midfielder. David went down, but García is confident this is just a goal kick.
We have a VAR check, but ultimately no penalty is given. Canada is miffed, but the replays available offer no clarity...well, until the very last one on Paramount+. This last look from behind the goal does show Adams making contact with David mid-stride. That might be a fortunate let-off in the end.
USMNT substitution: Marlon Fossey in
Mauricio Pochettino has made his first change of the night, bringing Standard Liège fullback Marlon Fossey for his second cap.
Fossey is in for Joe Scally, probably to the relief of everyone at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Scally was also on a yellow card, which adds to the reasons to make a move.
Meanwhile, not even 90 seconds into the half, and Mark McKenzie is down on his haunches looking unwell. He's going to play on, but that's a situation to monitor.
USMNT vs. Canada: 1-1 at halftime
While no one could plausibly say a half in which Canada had the territorial advantage, more chances, and better chances, the USMNT ended this half on a good note, which is more than you can say for the semifinal loss to Panama.
Agyemang's goal was a clear lift for the U.S., but we really need to talk about Diego Luna. There has been a lot of pining out there for the Real Salt Lake playmaker to get more opportunities, and while Luna hasn't seen much of the ball, he's making things happen with every touch.
Here are some quick stats from Sofascore:
- Assist
- 13-for-14 passing (1 key pass, and 2-for-2 on long balls)
- 2 tackles
- 3-for-5 in ground duels
- Drew one foul
- Only two losses of possession
Luna's movement was also key on the U.S. goal: he sparks the move by dipping inside before laying the ball back to McKennie, and then critically sensed that there was more available to the USMNT than simply progressing the ball. His hard run from deep on the right side into a dangerous pocked at the top of the box created the numbers-up situation that resulted in a goal. Pulisic's run drew attention, and Luna was in perfect position to do something with Weah's industry.
It underlines all the questions concerning Pochettino's decision to not deploy Luna or Gio Reyna in a game where the USMNT needed exactly this kind of profile on the field. It also stands to serve Luna's long-term hopes, as the door seems wide open for prospects to claim bigger roles right now.
USMNT vs. Canada: Pulisic wins foul, yellow card for Bombito
Smart play from Christian Pulisic (who has not been involved much so far) and Matt Turner gets Canada center back Moise Bombito into a jam.
Turner claimed a cross and quickly threw the ball out wide for Pulisic, catching Canada out and not letting them settle. That left Bombito with a poor angle to confront Pulisic, and he ended up having to bundle the AC Milan star over in the 43rd minute.
Goal USMNT! Agyemang scores after good work from Luna
Out of nowhere, the USMNT has its first truly good sequence in possession, and it ends in Patrick Agyemang firing home a 35th-minute equalizer.
The move started with Diego Luna (who has switched to the right flank, with Weah moving to the left) driving inside to find Weston McKennie. The Juventus midfielder then fizzed a pass out to the opposite side for Weah, and — after getting some luck, as Buchanan's attempted interception barely missed the ball — what followed was intricate stuff.
Weah drove inside aggressively, drawing three defenders but still getting the ball off his feet in time. Luna, meanwhile, had sprinted from where he started the sequence into zone 14, receiving the ball in an ideal spot. Luna pushed into the area before expertly dishing the ball back to Agyemang, whose shot had just enough on it to sneak past Dayne St. Clair.
Yes, there's good fortune in a couple of spots here, but the movement and urgency has been sorely missing for the USMNT in this window.
USMNT vs. Canada: Scally booked
Play resumes, and within seconds we have our first yellow card.
Joe Scally's high boot on Ahmed is a pretty easy decision for García, and Scally seems less frustrated with the call than just the general way things are going. The USMNT has been having fits trying to progress within 45 yards of Canada's goal, and Canada is starting to find its wingers in space more regularly.
Goal Canada! USMNT punished after long spell under pressure
Canada has taken a 1-0 lead as Tani Oluwaseyi mops up a loose ball from six yards.
The sequence saw Ali Ahmed freeze Tim Weah before pushing the ball in towards the penalty spot. Jonathan David's shot was scuffed, bouncing off of Cameron Carter-Vickers and back off of the Lille forward, before falling right to Oluwaseyi.
The goal is given initially, but we're getting a fairly long check for offside here. The Minnesota United striker appeared to be held on by Max Arfsten...and at long last, confirmation.
1-0 Canada, and you can't say it's undeserved. While Matt Turner hasn't been busy, Canada spent virtually all of the prior three or four minutes before the goal in possession, with the game largely being played in the U.S. half.
USMNT vs. Canada: Agyemang takes knock, Davies will be subbed off
Both teams have run into an issue here: first, Patrick Agyemang needs to be checked out after a hefty collision with Alistair Johnston. The Celtic defender is given a long talking-to, with referee Katia García indicating how early it is in the game, but he won't be booked. Eventually, Agyemang was cleared to continue.
Meanwhile, as Agyemang is being looked at, Davies has taken a seat. He'll play no further part, with Hajduk Split midfielder Niko Sigur coming on for him. The reshuffle sees Sigur at right back, while Johnston has moved into Davies' spot at left back.
USMNT vs. Canada: Formations becoming clear
Here are the full formations for both the USMNT and Canada (both right-to-left):
USA (4-2-3-1): Turner; Scally, Carter-Vickers, McKenzie, Arfsten; McKennie, Adams; Weah, Pulisic, Luna; Agyemang
Canada (4-2-3-1): St. Clair; Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Davies; Koné, Choinière; Buchanan, David, Ahmed; Oluwaseyi
Alphonso Davies down with a possible injury
Patrick Agyemang clashes with two Canada players chasing down a long ball, and Alphonso Davies comes up the worse for wear.
It looks from the replay like he took a kick near his knee, and Davies is in some pain. However, the signal from the training staff is that he's good to go, and he's returned already.
USMNT vs. Canada: McKenzie tested early
The first attack of note goes to Canada, who get Tajon Buchanan on the ball down the right flank. It's a dangerous ball in behind the back four, but Mark McKenzie arrived precisely when called upon to cut the fourth-minute service out.
Both teams are pressing each other, so the dynamic figures to be dramatically different from the USMNT's puzzlement against Panama's compact mid-block.
USMNT vs. Canada: Kickoff from SoFi Stadium
Attendance is extraordinarily bad, but nevertheless we're underway in this Concacaf Nations League third-place game.
USMNT in white with blue shorts, Canada going with head-to-toe red. One note from the jump is Tim Weah playing on his more familiar right wing rather than the left-sided role Pochettino has preferred him in.
USMNT: Pochettino names Pulisic captain
One interesting development for the USMNT: Christian Pulisic will captain the team today, a first since Pochettino took charge.
On Thursday, with Pulisic (and Tyler Adams, who has also captained this side in the past) playing the full 90 minutes, Tim Ream captained the group that fell to Panama.
USMNT vs. Canada: Lineups for Concacaf Nations League
That's five changes for Mauricio Pochettino: Patrick Agyemang, Max Arfsten, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Diego Luna, and Mark McKenzie are in, with Yunus Musah, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Josh Sargent, and Tanner Tessman moving to the bench.
For Arfsten and Luna, playing today would mark a first appearance in a competitive match for the USMNT. Agyemang, meanwhile, would be making his first start in competitive play (or as much as a Concacaf Nations League match can be officially competitive).
Per U.S. Soccer, Brian Gutiérrez and Zack Steffen were not included in the matchday squad over fitness issues. Gutiérrez has "muscular discomfort," while Steffen will miss out due to illness.
As for Canada:
Jesse Marsch makes three changes: Stephen Eustáquio, Jonathan Osorio, and Cyle Larin depart the starting 11, with Mathieu Choinière, Tajon Buchanan, and Tani Oluwaseyi stepping in.
USMNT vs. Canada: How to watch Concacaf Nations League, Time, TV, Streaming
- Date: Sunday, March 23
- Time: 6 p.m. ET
- Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
- TV: Univision, TUDN, UniMas (all Spanish-language only)
- Streaming: Paramount+
Stream USMNT vs. Canada on Paramount+