After winning four consecutive matches under new coach Mauricio Pochettino, the United States face a crossroads 15 months before they join Canada and Mexico in playing host to the World Cup.
Canada took third place in the Concacaf Nations League tournament with a 2-1 victory at SoFi Stadium. The US defeat, which came 72 hours after their 1-0 loss to Panama in Thursday’s semi-finals, forced the home side to finish fourth in a competition they had only won in its three previous editions.
The result raises questions about the immediate future of the US program, and rewarded Canada for a more adventurous gameplan that saw them generate more socring chances more consistently throughout the 90 minutes.
Jonathan David scored the winning goal, breaking a 1-1 tie in the 59th minute. David received Ali Ahmed’s pass in the penalty area, took one touch to his left and unleashed a curling shot that settled inside the left post far beyond goalkeeper Matt Turner’s reach.
After the loss to Panama in the semi-final, Pochettino replaced five starters from that match’s lineup and used a different tactical formation.
Instead of using a three-man backline with wingbacks as he did against Panama, Pochettino started Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie and Max Arfsten along with Joe Scally as a flat back four. Scally was the only defender who started against Panama.
In the midfield, Diego Luna entered the lineup and played in front of holding midfielders Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, with Patrick Agyemang serving as the lone striker in front of attacking midfielders Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah.
As a result, the United States played at a more deliberate pace, building slowly from the back.
Canada suffered a significant loss when Bayern Munich left back Alphonso Davies left the match in the 12th minute after colliding with Agyemang and Weah in the first 10 minutes. Nevertheless, Canada took the lead when Tani Oluwaseyi scored in the 27th minute.
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Ahmed began the scoring sequence with a cross from the left side of the penalty area to David, whose 13-yard shot deflected off McKenzie. The ball fell to Oluwaseyi, who poked inside the right post from the edge of the 6-yard box.
Agyemang tied the score in the 35th minute. McKennie started the play with a long ball to Weah on the left flank, who avoided three defenders. Weah passed from the left side of the penalty area to Luna, who poked a short left-footed pass to Agyemang. The striker’s 11-yard shot deflected off goalkeeper’s Dayne St Clair’s right leg.
Gio Reyna, considered one of the United States’ most dynamic players, entered the match in the 69th minute but made no impact.
