USMNT falls to Canada 2-0 in FIFA World Cup Qualifying
HAMILTON, Canada – The U.S. Men’s National Team fell to host Canada 2-0 on a cold Sunday afternoon at Tim Horton Field in both team’s tenth match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Octagonal.
Playing in front of a limited-capacity sellout crowd, Canada took the lead in the seventh minute off a goal by Cyle Larin, and Samuel Adekugbe secured the game with a goal late in second-half stoppage time.
Tonight’s result improves Canada’s position atop Concacaf’s standings to 22 points while the USA remains in second for the time being with 18 points. The top three finishers at the end of the final round advance to Qatar.
The United States will close out the winter World Cup qualifiers with its third game in seven days with USA-Honduras, presented by Volkswagen, on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn. (7:30 p.m. ET; FS1, Univision, TUDN).
USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter made three changes to the Starting XI that defeated El Salvador in a 1-0 shutout on Thursday night, inserting defender Miles Robinson and forwards Brenden Aaronson and Gyasi Zardes.
The USA started off on the front foot with a strong high press, but it was Canada who took advantage of its first – and only – opportunity of the half in the seventh minute. USA goalkeeper Matt Turner’s goal kick hung in the air allowing Canada’s Kamal Miller to start a quick passing sequence that finished with Larin and Jonathan David combing on a nifty give-and-go and Larin blasting a shot past Turner into the left corner. The crucial early goal for Canada would serve to dictate how the match would unfold.
The goal and superior U.S. possession throughout the match led to Canada playing a low block for the entire game and challenged the USMNT to find a way to break down the sturdy Canada defense which often featured five players on the back line. Canada were able to create moments of danger on the counter due to the elite speed of Larin and David, but nothing really troubled Turner until he had to make a double save late in the match.
The USA maintained the majority of possession and attacked down both wings, but the hosts did well to limit spaces on the unusually narrow field and were disruptive at the right moments to limit threatening opportunities. Forward Christian Pulisic was active on the ball and was the recipient of a few hard challenges that broke up plays.
Even so, the USA nearly tied the match late in the first half when Pulisic whipped in a corner kick that midfielder Weston McKinnie headed towards goal. Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan then made one of the key plays of the match, reacting well with an overhead swipe that sent the ball off the underside of the crossbar and it bounced out of danger.
The USA increased its intensity and energy even more in the final 45 minutes, but the killer final pass and consistent dangerous chances eluded them. Forward Brenden Aaronson had a good look on goal from the top of the box at the hour mark, but Borjan was well-positioned for the save.
Turner then made back-to-back saves to keep the USA’s hopes alive. Canada intercepted an errant pass out of the back and David ripped a shot from the top of the box that Turner stopped with a dive to his right. The ball bounced slightly forward and Larin pounced, but Turner stuck his left hand up and denied the close-range shot.
The USA kept its foot on the pedal in search of the equalizer. Second-half substitute Paul Arriola had two acrobatic attempts, but his side volley from 12 yards out was blocked and a bicycle attempt seconds later went wide. Pulisic then tried to surprise Borjan on a long-range free kick but the goalkeeper retreated and made the save.
The U.S. was forced to finish the game a man down when defender Chris Richards injured his foot on the hard artificial turf surface and the U.S. was out of subs.
As the USA pushed hard for a goal while playing with 10, Canada capitalized in the dying seconds when Samuel Adekugbe put the game away on an individual run straight down the middle of the U.S. defense and struck a powerful left-footed shot from 18 yards out past Turner.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
CAN- Cyle Larin (Jonathan David), 7th minute: Matt Turner’s goal kick caught some wind and was headed back near midfield by Canada’s Kamal Miller. The ball fell to Jonathan Osorio who quickly advanced it to forward Cyle Larin, who was checking back to the ball. Marked closely by Mile Robinson, Larin played a give-and-go with Jonathan David, and after entering the penalty area just right of center hit a shot across his body that Turner got his hands on but not enough to keep it out of the goal. USA 0, CAN 1.
CAN – Samuel Adekugbe (Kamal Miller), 90+5th minute: With the USA pushed high and playing a man down after center back Chris Richard’s foot injury with no substitutes remaining, Miller won a ball near the midfield touchline and fed Adekugbe, who went on an individual run through the remaining USA defenders before striking a shot from the edge of the box past Turner to clinch the three points for the home side. USA 0, CAN 2, FINAL.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- The USMNT falls to 16-10-12 in its all-time series vs. Canada and 12-2-7 in the modern era (since 1990).
- In World Cup qualifying, the U.S. now trails Canada 4-7-4 and 4-2-1 in qualifying matches on Canadian soil.
- Today’s Starting XI had an average age of 23 years, 255 days.
- The USMNT starting lineup averaged 24 caps and 14 in official competition.
- Nine starters were age 24 and younger: Antonee Robinson and Miles Robinson (24); Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic (23); Tyler Adams (22); Brenden Aaronson, Sergiño Dest, and Chris Richards (21); Yunus Musah (19).
- Seven of today’s starters also began the USA’s September qualifier against Canada on Sept. 5, 2021, in Nashville: Aaronson, Adams, Dest, A. Robinson, M. Robinson, Pulisic, Turner.
- Chris Richards and Miles Robinson paired in central defense for the second time tonight. They first partnered in the 2-1 qualifying win against Costa Rica on Oct. 13, 2021, in Columbus.
- Tyler Adams captained the USMNT for the seventh time today and it was the first time the USA has lost with Adams as captain. The team falls to 4-1-2 in matches where Adams wears the armband.
- Today marked the first time goalkeeper Matt Turner has allowed more than one goal in 15 caps for the USMNT.
- Adams, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah partnered together in midfield for the fifth time during World Cup Qualifying. The trio previously worked the 2-0 win against Jamaica (October 7), 2-1 win against Costa Rica (Oct. 13), 2-0 win against Mexico (Nov. 12) and Thursday’s 1-0 win against El Salvador.
- With teams limited to dressing 23 players, Sebastian Lletget and Gabriel Slonina were not part of today’s matchday squad. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen still has not traveled to join the team and remains listed as day-to-day.
-U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: Canada vs United States Men’s National Team
Date: January 30, 2022
Competition: Concacaf 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
Venue: Tim Horton’s Field; Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Attendance: 12,000
Kickoff: 3:05 p.m. ET
Weather: 22 degrees, cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 0 0
CAN 1 1 2
CAN – Cyle Larin (Jonathan David) 7th minute
CAN – Samuel Adekugbe (Kamal Miller) 90+5
Lineups:
USA:1-Matt Turner; 2-Sergiño Dest (21-Reggie Cannon, 76), 12-Miles Robinson, 15-Chris Richards, 5-Antonee Robinson; 4-Tyler Adams (Capt.) (23-Kellyn Acosta, 69), 8-Weston McKennie, 6-Yunus Musah (7-Paul Arriola, 76); 11-Brendan Aaronson (13-Jordan Morris, 69), 9-Gyasi Zardes (18-Ricardo Pepi, 69), 10-Christian Pulisic
Substitutes Not Used: 19-Sean Johnson, 3-Walker Zimmerman, 14-Cristian Roldan, 16-Mark McKenzie, 17-Luca de la Torre, 20-Jesús Ferreira, 22-DeAndre Yedlin
Head coach: Gregg Berhalter
CAN: 18-Milan Borjan (Capt.); 2-Alistair Johnston, 5-Steven Vitória, 4-Kamal Miller, 3-Samuel Adekugbe; 22-Richie Laryea, 14-Mark-Anthony Kaye (8-Liam Fraser, 58), 11-Tajon Buchanan; 20-Jonathan David (12-Iké Ugbo, 84), 21-Jonathan Osorio, 17-Cyle Larin (10-David Junior Hoilett, 73)
Substitutes not used: 1-Jayson Leutwiler, 16-Maxime Cépeau, 6-Samuel Piette, 7-Liam Millar, 9-Lucas Cavallini, 13-Derek Cornelius, 15-Doneil Henry, 19-Cristián Gutierrez, 23-Scott Kennedy
Head coach: John Herdman
Stats Summary: USA / CAN
Shots: 13 / 8
Shots on Goal: 3 / 4
Saves: 2 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 1
Fouls: 15 / 12
Offside: 1 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
CAN- Steven Vitória (Caution) 31st minute
CAN- Tajon Buchanan (Caution) 88nd minute
Officials:
Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Morin (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Miguel Hernandez (MEX)
4th Official: Luis Enrique Santander (MEX)
VAR: Fernando Hernandez (MEX)
Assistant VAR: Ricardo Moreno (CRC)
Man of the Match: Weston Mckennie
