Goals from Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams helped the U.S. defeat Mexico 2-0 in the CONCACAF Nations League final on Sunday, giving the Americans all three titles in the tournament's history.
Adams scored a long-range screamer in the 45th minute, and Reyna scored for the U.S. on a loose ball from the edge of the box in the 63rd minute. The U.S. also won Nations League titles in 2021 and 2023.
“Winning a title for your country never gets old. I will never take any of it for granted,” Reyna said.
“The group of players and the energy we have, I always love coming to camp. I'm speechless right now.”
Reyna hoped the “three-peat” would serve as inspiration for his side to play in the Copa America this summer, at home against South America's top teams.
“It's a lot of momentum,” he said. “We're together with our core group now. We know what it takes to win big games.
“Hopefully we can keep the momentum going into the Copa America and maybe lift the trophy there.”
The Mexicans appeared to have a lifeline in the game in the 73rd minute when American defender Anthony Robinson was awarded a penalty for a foul on Santiago Jimenez inside the penalty area.
However, the decision was overturned by a video review and Jimenez was instead given a yellow card for simulation, dampening Mexico's response.
The match was stopped in the 86th minute and twice more in stoppage time after Mexican fans shouted a homophobic insult when the opposing goalkeeper kicked the ball.
When the final whistle finally blew, the Americans were crowned in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.
“Our goal this whole tournament was to come out and get a chance to play in the finals and win the finals, and we accomplished that,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said.
After defeating Mexico 3-0 in last year's semifinals, the Americans defeated Mexico 3-2 in overtime in the first championship game of 2021 and defeated Canada 2-0 in last year's final. , winning the previous two CONCACAF Nations League titles.
Mexico still leads the rivalry with 37 wins, 24 losses, and 17 ties, but the U.S. men's team extended its current undefeated all-conference record against Mexico to seven games, a rivalry high with five wins and two ties. .
“Anytime you don't achieve something, you have to learn from it,” Mexico coach Jaime Lozano said. “They were better in almost everything: quality, pressure, scoring options. They put pressure on us, but we couldn't find a solution.
“They deserve to win and we must learn as much as possible from these experiences and turn things around quickly.”
The Americans took the lead in the 45th inning when Adams, unguarded, darted home after receiving a pass from Wes McKennie and fired a right-footed shot from 30 yards out, giving Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa no chance to dive. Ta.
Adams, who has been plagued by injuries since the World Cup, said he was “excited to be back in this group” and said he was “always up for the big games.”
His only international goal to date also came in a friendly against Mexico in 2018.
Mexico frustrated the Americans for much of the first half, shutting down the American attack with a physical performance that cut off passing lanes and applied pressure.
American captain Christian Pulisic had just 15 touches in the first half, and the standout striker was mostly thwarted by Mexico's aggressive defense.
– Adams retires after turning 45 –
Adams was sent off at half-time, a precautionary measure following two hamstring surgeries and a year-long absence from club level, with only a short spell with AFC Bournemouth. Ta.
“He's a very important part of the team,” Reyna said. “He was on a minutes restriction, so I would have liked to have seen more of him otherwise.”
Reyna's goal came after Pulisic fired the ball from the last line into traffic in the center of the area. Wright deflected the bounced ball to Reyna, whose right-footed shot found the back of the net.
In the third-place match, Jamaica defeated Panama 1-0 with a goal from Dexter Lembikisa in the 42nd minute.
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