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Jeff Carlisle
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Jeff Carlisle
U.S. football correspondent
- Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. nationwide staff for ESPN FC.
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Cesar Hernandez
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Cesar Hernandez
Workforce Author, ESPN FC
Mar 23, 2025, 08:55 PM ET
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After claiming the primary 3 Concacaf Countries League titles, america males’s nationwide staff suffered its 2nd consecutive loss within the 2025 version, falling to Canada 2-1 in Sunday’s third-place fit.
Tani Oluwaseyi opened the scoring for Canada within the twenty seventh minute, just for Patrick Agyemang to equalize for the U.S. 8 mins later. However Canada gave the impression of the extra bad aspect all the way through, whilst supervisor Jesse Marsch used to be banished from the sidelines in the second one part.
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Simply in need of the hour mark, Canada reclaimed the lead with Ali Ahmed’s deft go discovering Jonathan David throughout the field to fireside domestic from 14 yards.
The outcome leaves Mauricio Pochettino with masses to contemplate forward of this summer time’s Concacaf Gold Cup, which is the overall aggressive match prior to the 2026 FIFA International Cup on domestic soil.
Over those previous two fits, the U.S. head trainer could not have favored what he noticed.
USMNT displays some resilience, however falls as soon as once more
Let’s accept it. Expectancies had been low for the U.S. heading into Sunday’s fit. The staff used to be coming off a dispiriting 1-0 defeat to Panama wherein some longstanding problems about competitiveness, urgency and depth got here to the fore. That arrange a fit with a vastly motivated Canada aspect, with Pochettino rotating in some younger avid gamers. When Oluwaseyi scored within the twenty seventh minute off a goal-mouth scramble, the U.S. — which had seemed a little disjointed as much as that time — appeared set to collapse.
However then the U.S. fought again with a mix of veteran savvy and the feistiness of teenybopper. Timothy Weah’s surging run for the wing noticed him to find Diego Luna within the field. Luna then confirmed immense composure. As an alternative of putting at target, he discovered Agyemang in area, and the Charlotte FC ahead used to be in a position to complete.
It used to be a badly wanted display of spirit from the U.S., given Thursday’s tepid show towards Panama, nevertheless it could not be sustained. David’s 2nd part strike put Canada again in entrance and, in spite of a few shut possibilities, together with one from Luna within the part’s latter phases in addition to any other from Max Arfsten in stoppage time, the U.S. ended this Concacaf Countries League marketing campaign with a disappointing fourth-place end. — Jeff Carlisle
The USMNT protection appeared helpless in Sunday’s Concacaf Countries League defeat to Canada. John Dorton/ISI Footage/USSF/Getty Photographs
Pochettino’s defenders crumbled in defeat
A grain of salt should be used when examining an American again line that wasn’t at complete power, however issues was an increasing number of dire for the protection that appeared disjointed and continuously stuck chasing attacking Canadian avid gamers.
Even Mark McKenzie, to start with a vibrant spot for the U.S., succumbed to errors in the second one part that created bad alternatives for the opposition.
If Pochettino used to be hoping to seek out extra solutions for dependable choices extensive, it will be difficult to mention that starters akin to Arfsten, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Joe Scally, and possibly McKenzie, are worthy of returning to the XI within the close to long run.
Marlon Fossey, any other backup that earned mins as a halftime change, additionally had some questionable moments because the nationwide staff’s proper again. — Cesar Hernandez
Has Pulisic run out of fuel?
There is not any query that Christian Pulisic has loved a stellar season at AC Milan. His 15 objectives in all competitions tied his profession prime for a unmarried season with two months to move. He has been a mainstay at global degree as neatly. His 31 overall objectives put him in 5th position at the all-time USMNT record.
However Pulisic struggled to have a lot of an affect in both fit on the Concacaf Countries League finals. Pochettino said previous to the Canada recreation that the U.S. wanted extra out of the Milan attacker. However Pulisic did not ship, failing to have a lot of an affect within the attacking part, whether or not it used to be from set items or the run of play. Granted, Pulisic has lengthy been a marked guy at global degree, however that does not determine to modify for the remainder of this cycle.
On Sunday, the Canadians limited Pulisic to only seven finished passes out of 12 makes an attempt all through the 69 mins he used to be at the pitch. The 26-year-old — the USMNT’s number one attacking weapon — additionally had 0 touches within the guests’ 18-yard field. To position it mildly, that is not perfect.
Pulisic has been key for Milan, and Pochettino has expressed worry about his heavy workload. If he has run out of fuel, AC Milan’s reliance on him does not determine to let up, which means Pochettino will wish to get a hold of some way for Pulisic to recharge his batteries forward of the summer time. — Carlisle
Leader USMNT writer Christian Pulisic used to be stored quiet in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Canada. Shaun Clark/ISI Footage/USSF/Getty Photographs
Canada earn back-to-back wins towards U.S. competitors
A 2-1 pleasant victory in 2024, and now, a Concacaf Countries League third-place fit with the similar scoreline.
Canada have earned back-to-back wins towards their North American competitors, signifying further parity within the area that used to be as soon as ruled by way of simply america and Mexico.
Much more spectacular is the truth that each fits had been on U.S. soil, highlighting a home-field merit this is vanishing for the Stars and Stripes.
Issues may now not have long gone to devise within the Countries League for the Canadian aspect that slipped up towards Mexico within the semis, misplaced Alphonso Davies to damage within the third-place fit, and in addition noticed supervisor Marsch earn an immediate crimson all through Sunday’s recreation, however they may be able to a minimum of cling their heads up prime for as soon as once more quieting the U.S. — Hernandez
Diego Luna has earned extra reps
When Pochettino spoke ultimate yr about giving MLS avid gamers a shot, there used to be greater than a temptation to suppose he used to be simply throwing a bone to the U.S. home league. It used to be undoubtedly simple to speak up MLS avid gamers all through the January camp too.
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However on Sunday, Pochettino put his cash the place his mouth used to be and gave begins to Columbus Team defender Arfsten, Agyemang and Luna of Actual Salt Lake. Of the 3, Luna shined the brightest. He persevered to blow their own horns his talent to wiggle out of tight areas, both at the dribble or with a deft go. Most significantly to Pochettino, Luna exhibited the type of urgency at the ball that the U.S. supervisor has been yearning. Luna even confirmed some tenacity on protection. His go to Agyemang within the run-up to the U.S. target confirmed the best stability of persistence and urgency. The one grievance used to be that he did not get at the ball extra.
The entire extra reason when the staff reconvenes in past due Would possibly forward of the Concacaf Gold Cup, Luna must be in rivalry for extra mins. — Carlisle
No Davies or Marsch? No drawback for Canada
It is something to lose a captain akin to Davies to damage within the first part, and it is any other to then see your supervisor earn a crimson card in the second one, and but, Canada discovered a solution to be triumphant with out their distinguished leaders Sunday.
What used to be possibly maximum noteworthy is that every target gave the impression to be in line with their setbacks.
Following Davies’ damage within the twelfth minute, it took Canada simply quarter-hour later for Oluwaseyi to seek out the again of the web. Marsh’s crimson, following lawsuits that his aspect were not given a penalty thru a fall from David, used to be then briefly forgotten moments later when the Lille striker scored the winner within the 59th minute.
It would now not had been the entire match that the Canadians can have sought after, however their resilience and powerful mentality, only one yr forward of a International Cup that they will co-host, used to be extremely commendable. — Hernandez
