Folarin Balogun of the United States, centre left, and Stephen Eustaquio, of Canada, centre right, battle for the ball during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League final match Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-John Locher
LAS VEGAS – The Canadian men’s bid for a first trophy in 23 years fell short Sunday in a 2-0 loss to the U.S. in the CONCACAF Nations League final.
The 47th-ranked Canadian men were looking for their first tournament win since the 2000 Gold Cup, not to mention the Nations League winner’s prize of some US$1 million.
Chris Richards (12th minute) and Folarin Balogun (34th minute) scored for the 13th-ranked U.S.
Fifteenth-ranked Mexico defeated No. 58 Panama 1-0 in the earlier third-place game at Allegiant Stadium, thanks to a fourth-minute goal by Jesus Gallardo.
The Americans also won the inaugural Nations League in 2021, defeating Mexico in the final.
Canada now turns its attention to the Gold Cup, starting June 27 against a yet-to-be decided qualifier at Toronto’s BMO Field.
The Americans were full value for the victory, threatening in attack and steady in defence. Canada, wearing its black ensemble, looked vulnerable on set pieces and lacked clinical finishing.
Both teams looked dangerous early with their pace and passing. But it was the Americans who went ahead with the six-foot-three Richards, rising high in a tangle of players, heading home a Gio Reyna corner in the 12th minute. The Crystal Palace centre back’s downward header eluded Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan for his first goal in his 10th international appearance.
Reyna played provider again in the 34th minute, putting Balogun behind the defence on a rapid-fire counterattack. The 21-year-old forward, who scored 21 goals for France’s Reims on loan from Arsenal last season, opened his U.S. account in just his second outing, sweeping a right-footed shot past Borjan.
The game served as a farewell for 40-year-old captain Atiba Hutchinson, who is retiring after a distinguished club and international career. Hutchinson, who came off the bench in the 76th minute in Thursday’s 2-0 semifinal win over No. 58 Panama, watched from the bench Sunday.
Hutchinson was 19 when he made his senior debut for Canada in January 2003 in a 4-0 loss to the U.S. The midfielder, who exits with a Canadian men’s record (104) caps played in six Gold Cups and a Canadian-record 38 World Cup qualifying games.
John Herdman made three changes to his starting 11, inserting Alphonso Davies, Jonathan Osorio and Scott Kennedy for Tajon Buchanan, Sam Adekugbe and Steven Vitoria.
The Americans were without midfielder Weston McKennie and fullback Sergino Dest, both suspended after being red-carded in the chippy 3-0 win over Mexico in the semifinal. Joseph Scally, Brenden Aaronson and Walker Zimmerman came into the U.S. lineup for Dest, McKennie and Miles Robinson.
The Canadian starting 11 came into the game with 441 combined caps compared to 282 for the U.S.
After an even opening, Walker Zimmerman’s volley was wide after a U.S. corner in the eighth minute. Seconds later, Cyle Larin forced a save from U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner at the other end.
Balogun came close in the 28th minute when an American free kick was headed his way in the box but Canadian midfielder Stephen Eustaquio’s timely intervention ended the threat.
Richie Laryea came close for Canada in the 38th minute, his low shots stopped by Turner. A diving Borjan then stopped a long-range free kick from Timothy Weah.
Canada almost conceded an own goal in the 45th minute with Borjan having to rise high to grab Kennedy’s misplaced defensive header.
The influential Reyna did not come out for the second half after taking a knock just before the break. Canada, meanwhile, switched to a back four.
Richards hit the crossbar off a U.S. corner in the 55th. And Canada dodged another bullet on the corner that followed, with a U.S. shot hitting Kennedy on the goal line with Borjan saving a shot off the rebound.
Buchanan, Adekugbe and Vitoria came on for Canada at the hour mark. The U.S. kept coming with Vitoria blocking a goal chance in the 63rd. Larin shot high four minutes later.
Herdman sent on striker Lucas Cavallini in the 75th minute. Canada pressed in the final minutes with the Americans content to sit back and defend. Junior Hoilett came on for Canada in the 89th.
The U.S. improved to 17-10-12 all-time against Canada.
But the Canadians have had success against the U.S. in past CONCACAF Nations League play. The Canadian men won 2-0 when they met in October 2019 at BMO Field with goals from Davies and substitute Cavallini ending a 34-year, 17-match winless run for Canada against its North American rival.
The U.S. won the return match 4-1 in Orlando the next month to advance to the Nations League finals.
The teams had gone 1-1-1 in meetings since then, with Canada winning 2-0 last time out in World Cup qualifying play in January 2022 in Hamilton.
But the Americans came into Sunday’s game unbeaten in 21 straight matches (11-0-10) against Canada on U.S. soil, the longest home unbeaten run against a single opponent in program history.
The Nations League features 41 teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean split into three tiers: League A (12 teams), B (16) and C (13). The four group winners in League A advanced to the final four with Canada (3-1-0) topping Group C and the U.S. (3-0-1) winning Group D.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 18, 2023.
