Christian Pulisic scoring at the end of the first half and at the beginning of the second, Ricardo Pepi add a late goal and USA beat Mexico 3-0 on Thursday night to reach the CONCACAF Nations League final against Canada.
Pulisic, who made his first game for club or country since April 15, put the United States ahead in 37 minutes and doubled the lead in 46 minutes. He had 25 goals in 59 minutes. international appearances, including 4 goals against Mexico. Pepi scored in the 79th minute, five minutes after coming on.
USA and Mexico each finished with the following nine players Weston McKennieSergiño Dest, Cesar Montes and Gerardo Arteaga received a red card in a difficult second half, including Salvadoran referee Iván Barton stopping the game in the 90th minute because of anti-gay chants from the crowd.
The game continued, but the chanting continued, and Barton finished the game in the eighth minute in 12 minutes of scheduled injury time.
McKennie and Dest will be suspended for Sunday’s final after receiving a red card.
“I’m sad, the game doesn’t have to be like this,” Pulisic said. “We don’t expect this to happen anymore. Now we are missing two good players for the final.”
With a 3-goal victory over Mexico after 23 years, the US extended its unbeaten streak against Mexico. El Tri to six (three wins, three draws), matching the longest American, from 2011 to 2015.
BJ Callaghan coached his first game as the United States’ second interim coach after Anthony Hudson quit his job to join a Qatari club. Right before the match, news broke that the United States was prepared rehired Gregg Berhalter as permanent manager.
Folarin Balogun debut, starting from the striker after the 21-year-old decided to play for the United States more England And Nigeria.
America went before Giovanni Reyna poke the ball out of Montes and then while lying on his stomach, poke Jorge Sánchez. Pulisic broke through behind the defenders, made a few touches and from the edge of the 6m50 the ball went past the keeper. Guillermo Ochoa.
“We struggled a lot with the ball, things didn’t go well, it was a loss that broke our hearts,” said Mexico’s Ochoa. “We feel sorry for the fans. This is the beginning of a process and we have to learn from it.”
McKennie started moving for the second goal with a long pass down the wing for Timothy Weah, who put in a cross. A sprinting Pulisic has fallen behind Israel Reyes and Sánchez, left-footed shot from 6 yards,
Montes was directly red carded in the 69th minute for kicking Balogun while the two were fighting for the ball. McKennie was shown a red card two minutes later for placing his hand on Sánchez’s neck during the ensuing argument and for shoving.
“I don’t like to lose and there are ways to lose. They beat us really, you have to accept that,” said Mexico coach Diego Cocca. “I feel I have the support of the executives [of the Mexican federation]. They say I am fully supported and this must be seen in difficult times. Now is the time to look ahead and see the reactions of the players and leaders. And we have the Gold Cup to compete against.”
Pepi scored his seventh international goal, receiving a pass from Dest, touching and rounding Ochoa. Dest and Arteaga were sent off in the 86th minute for a fight on the neck.
Reyna, dyed blonde, started for the first time for club or country since March 27, also the last time Dest and the goalkeeper Matt Turner appeared in any match.
Canada beat Panama 2-0 in the opening goal thanks to the goals of Jonathan David on the 25th and Alphonso Davies on the 69th. Mexico and Panama meet in the third place match.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
