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Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mexico and its reborn star beat Panama in dramatic CONCACAF Nations League final
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Mexico scrapped and clawed and climbed back to the top of North and Central American soccer here at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, beating Panama 2-1 to win its first CONCACAF Nations League. It climbed, literally and figuratively, no the back of resurgent striker Raúl Jiménez, who scored twice, once early and once in the 92nd minute from the penalty spot. In stoppage time of a physical, fractured game, after a blatant and baffling Panama handball, Jiménez stepped up and put his stamp on a tournament that he owned. He converted the penalty, and simply stood still as bedlam exploded all around him. Teammates mobbed him. Some 60,000 fans erupted. Hundreds of beer cups rained down toward the field in celebration. Pizza boxes flew. Raúl Jiménez comes up clutch from the PK spot 🇲🇽Mexico are crowned Concacaf Nations League champions for the first time in their history 🏆 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 24, 2025 And the Mexicans reclaimed the CONCACAF throne that, for decades, was theirs. In recent years, El Tri had ceded that throne to the United States. Or, rather, the U.S. had seized it — first with a dramatic Nations League title in 2021, then an emphatic title defense in 2023, and a businesslike three-peat in 2024. The Americans, confident and rising, seemed like the new kings of the region. 'I wanna keep winning this trophy, and only let us win it, to the point it gets boring to people,' U.S. defender Antonee Robinson said at this very moment last year. But a year later, the U.S. flopped in its semifinal. Mexico resurged, beat Canada in the second semi, and won its maiden Nations League on Sunday without having to face the defending champs. It was not dominant, not irresistible, not irrepressible. It could have been after Jiménez's early goal, but Panama, the most impressive CONCACAF team of the week, fought back. In first-half stoppage time, Los Canaleros won a penalty of their own, and their intermittent pressure paid off. Adalberto Carrasquilla scored from the spot. The match went to halftime level. Mexico labored for much of the second half. Anxiety spread throughout a crowd of 68,212. So did the homophobic "p***" chant, which boomed at least six times, and prompted referee Mario Escobar to briefly suspend the match. At that point, it was still level and locked, with no locksmith on either side to unbolt it. But then, out of nowhere, a clumsy Panamanian arm appeared, and a golden opportunity fell to the man of the hour — and the weekend. Jiménez, a 33-year-old star reborn, struggled for years after suffering a fractured skull in late 2020. Even after returning to full health, he drifted further and further from his prime, away from the form that once made him the most feared player in CONCACAF. He drifted so far that he was omitted from Mexico's squad for last summer's Copa América. But in 2024-25, he has turned back time. On a per-90-minute basis, he is scoring more than he ever has in the Premier League since his move to England seven years ago. And if that wasn't enough proof that he is back, fully back, Jiménez proved it this week. He scored in the very first minute of Mexico's semifinal, bursting through the Canadian defense. He sealed victory Thursday with a glorious free kick, a curler that beat Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair with both power and precision. Three days later, he needed only eight minutes to pick up where he left off. His back-post header put Mexico ahead 1-0. A perfect start for Mexico!🔥That's three goals in three games for Raúl Jiménez 🇲🇽 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 24, 2025 For the rest of the 90, he got precious little service. Mexico's same old flaws — namely, a lack of creativity and attacking structure — reappeared. The game crept toward extra time, and looked increasingly likely to get there. But once Escobar pointed to the spot, there was little doubt about the end result. There was little doubt about who'd win the tournament's "Best Player" award. And there was little doubt about what this title would mean to Mexico and to Jiménez personally. His scary injury five years ago, as head coach Javier Aguirre said, had been "painful for all of Mexico." His return has been inspiring and triumphant. 'It's fantastic to come back after what I've been through," Jiménez told CBS Sports after lifting the Nations League trophy. "I'm really happy. This is just a great example that, you never have to lose the faith.' Raúl Jiménez comes up clutch from the PK spot 🇲🇽Mexico are crowned Concacaf Nations League champions for the first time in their history 🏆 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 24, 2025 WE ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE! 🏆💥VAMOS MÉXICO!!! 🇲🇽❤️🔥#PorMexicoTodo — Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 24, 2025 95' | Double mexican subs➡️ S. Gimenez & J. Gallardo➡️ J. Angulo & O. Pineda — Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 24, 2025 ¡PENAL PERFECTO DE RAÚL PARA MÉXICO! ⚽🇲🇽 — Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 24, 2025 ⌚️Minuto 93'Cambio en #PanamáMayor🇵🇦Sale: Edgardo FariñaIngresa: Ismael Díaz🇵🇦 1-2 🇲🇽⚽️ Carrasquilla🏟️ @SoFiStadium 📺 @deportes_rpc y @tvmaxdeportes #MásPanameñosQueNunca🇵🇦 — FEPAFUT (@fepafut) March 24, 2025 Jimenez drills the likely game-winner in the 92nd minute! He's been the best player on the field all night. Raul Jimenez lines up to take the shot after a handball inside the box. It marred the 2023 semifinal between the U.S. and Mexico. It marred the 2024 final. As I wrote two years ago, soccer has failed the LGBTQ community. No, there is no easy solution; but also, CONCACAF, Mexican soccer authorities and many others have dragged their feet for years trying to find a solution. Suspended due to the "p***" chant. It will likely resume in a minute or two, but who knows what will happen if fans keep doing the chant. ... and organizers aren't doing anything about it. Mexico fans have screamed "p***" en masse at least five times tonight. The first one is supposed to trigger an in-stadium warning, and the start of the three-step protocol. We just got our first warning after the fifth (and loudest) one, in the 82nd minute. Both teams still going for it, with 14 minutes of the 90 to go. Both look capable of finding a second goal. Announced attendance, by the way, is 68,212. Not a sellout, but it very much filled in for the final. Mexico's best qualities and its clearest flaws have been on display here. They play with plenty of passion. They've clearly bought in to what Aguirre is preaching. They have two superb strikers, and Edson has been close to his combative best. But, they lack attacking structure and creativity. Roberto Alvarado just epitomized that when he let an attack fizzle with a sloppy touch on the right wing. So they haven't been able to overwhelm Panama. Still 1-1, 74th minute. 58' | Double mexican sub 🇲🇽⬅️ L. Romo & R. Alvarado➡️L. Chávez & A. Vega — Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 24, 2025 ⌚️Minuto 60'Cambio en #PanamáMayor🇵🇦Sale: Cecilio WatermanIngresa: José Fajardo🇵🇦 1-1 🇲🇽⚽️ Carrasquilla🏟️ @SoFiStadium 📺 @deportes_rpc y @tvmaxdeportes #MásPanameñosQueNunca🇵🇦 — FEPAFUT (@fepafut) March 24, 2025 ¡CARRASQUILLA IGUALA LA FINAL! ⚽🇵🇦 — Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 24, 2025 Panama came to play. Took an early punch and never even wobbled. (Also got essentially the exact same penalty that Canada didn't get three days earlier.) Almost no matter how this final ends, Los Canaleros have been the most impressive team this week. Should be an excellent second half. Panama's Adalberto Carrasquilla gets the penalty past Luis Malagon to even things up just before halftime. Raúl Jiménez comes up clutch from the PK spot 🇲🇽Mexico are crowned Concacaf Nations League champions for the first time in their history 🏆 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 24, 2025 WE ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE! 🏆💥VAMOS MÉXICO!!! 🇲🇽❤️🔥#PorMexicoTodo — Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 24, 2025 95' | Double mexican subs➡️ S. Gimenez & J. Gallardo➡️ J. Angulo & O. Pineda — Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 24, 2025 ¡PENAL PERFECTO DE RAÚL PARA MÉXICO! ⚽🇲🇽 — Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 24, 2025 ⌚️Minuto 93'Cambio en #PanamáMayor🇵🇦Sale: Edgardo FariñaIngresa: Ismael Díaz🇵🇦 1-2 🇲🇽⚽️ Carrasquilla🏟️ @SoFiStadium 📺 @deportes_rpc y @tvmaxdeportes #MásPanameñosQueNunca🇵🇦 — FEPAFUT (@fepafut) March 24, 2025 Jimenez drills the likely game-winner in the 92nd minute! He's been the best player on the field all night. Raul Jimenez lines up to take the shot after a handball inside the box. It marred the 2023 semifinal between the U.S. and Mexico. It marred the 2024 final. As I wrote two years ago, soccer has failed the LGBTQ community. No, there is no easy solution; but also, CONCACAF, Mexican soccer authorities and many others have dragged their feet for years trying to find a solution. Suspended due to the "p***" chant. It will likely resume in a minute or two, but who knows what will happen if fans keep doing the chant. ... and organizers aren't doing anything about it. Mexico fans have screamed "p***" en masse at least five times tonight. The first one is supposed to trigger an in-stadium warning, and the start of the three-step protocol. We just got our first warning after the fifth (and loudest) one, in the 82nd minute. Both teams still going for it, with 14 minutes of the 90 to go. Both look capable of finding a second goal. Announced attendance, by the way, is 68,212. Not a sellout, but it very much filled in for the final. Mexico's best qualities and its clearest flaws have been on display here. They play with plenty of passion. They've clearly bought in to what Aguirre is preaching. They have two superb strikers, and Edson has been close to his combative best. But, they lack attacking structure and creativity. Roberto Alvarado just epitomized that when he let an attack fizzle with a sloppy touch on the right wing. So they haven't been able to overwhelm Panama. Still 1-1, 74th minute. 58' | Double mexican sub 🇲🇽⬅️ L. Romo & R. Alvarado➡️L. Chávez & A. Vega — Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 24, 2025 ⌚️Minuto 60'Cambio en #PanamáMayor🇵🇦Sale: Cecilio WatermanIngresa: José Fajardo🇵🇦 1-1 🇲🇽⚽️ Carrasquilla🏟️ @SoFiStadium 📺 @deportes_rpc y @tvmaxdeportes #MásPanameñosQueNunca🇵🇦 — FEPAFUT (@fepafut) March 24, 2025 ¡CARRASQUILLA IGUALA LA FINAL! ⚽🇵🇦 — Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 24, 2025 Panama came to play. Took an early punch and never even wobbled. (Also got essentially the exact same penalty that Canada didn't get three days earlier.) Almost no matter how this final ends, Los Canaleros have been the most impressive team this week. Should be an excellent second half. Panama's Adalberto Carrasquilla gets the penalty past Luis Malagon to even things up just before halftime.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mexico beats Panama in dramatic Nations League final, returns to top of CONCACAF
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Raúl Jiménez scored twice, including once from the penalty spot in the 92nd minute, to send the Mexico men's national team back to the top of North and Central American soccer here at SoFi Stadium in Sunday's CONCACAF Nations League final. Mexico beat Panama, 2-1, to win the four-year-old competition for the first time. In stoppage time of a physical, fractured game, Jiménez stepped up and put his stamp on a tournament that he owned. He converted the penalty, and simply stood still as bedlam exploded all around him. Teammates mobbed him. Some 60,000 fans erupted. Hundreds of beer cups rained down toward the field in celebration. And Mexico reclaimed the CONCACAF throne that it once owned. Raúl Jiménez comes up clutch from the PK spot 🇲🇽Mexico are crowned Concacaf Nations League champions for the first time in their history 🏆 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 24, 2025 WE ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE! 🏆💥VAMOS MÉXICO!!! 🇲🇽❤️🔥#PorMexicoTodo — Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 24, 2025 95' | Double mexican subs➡️ S. Gimenez & J. Gallardo➡️ J. Angulo & O. Pineda — Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 24, 2025 ¡PENAL PERFECTO DE RAÚL PARA MÉXICO! ⚽🇲🇽 — Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 24, 2025 ⌚️Minuto 93'Cambio en #PanamáMayor🇵🇦Sale: Edgardo FariñaIngresa: Ismael Díaz🇵🇦 1-2 🇲🇽⚽️ Carrasquilla🏟️ @SoFiStadium 📺 @deportes_rpc y @tvmaxdeportes #MásPanameñosQueNunca🇵🇦 — FEPAFUT (@fepafut) March 24, 2025 Jimenez drills the likely game-winner in the 92nd minute! He's been the best player on the field all night. Raul Jimenez lines up to take the shot after a handball inside the box. It marred the 2023 semifinal between the U.S. and Mexico. It marred the 2024 final. As I wrote two years ago, soccer has failed the LGBTQ community. No, there is no easy solution; but also, CONCACAF, Mexican soccer authorities and many others have dragged their feet for years trying to find a solution. Suspended due to the "p***" chant. It will likely resume in a minute or two, but who knows what will happen if fans keep doing the chant. ... and organizers aren't doing anything about it. Mexico fans have screamed "p***" en masse at least five times tonight. The first one is supposed to trigger an in-stadium warning, and the start of the three-step protocol. We just got our first warning after the fifth (and loudest) one, in the 82nd minute. Both teams still going for it, with 14 minutes of the 90 to go. Both look capable of finding a second goal. Announced attendance, by the way, is 68,212. Not a sellout, but it very much filled in for the final. Mexico's best qualities and its clearest flaws have been on display here. They play with plenty of passion. They've clearly bought in to what Aguirre is preaching. They have two superb strikers, and Edson has been close to his combative best. But, they lack attacking structure and creativity. Roberto Alvarado just epitomized that when he let an attack fizzle with a sloppy touch on the right wing. So they haven't been able to overwhelm Panama. Still 1-1, 74th minute. 58' | Double mexican sub 🇲🇽⬅️ L. Romo & R. Alvarado➡️L. Chávez & A. Vega — Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 24, 2025 ⌚️Minuto 60'Cambio en #PanamáMayor🇵🇦Sale: Cecilio WatermanIngresa: José Fajardo🇵🇦 1-1 🇲🇽⚽️ Carrasquilla🏟️ @SoFiStadium 📺 @deportes_rpc y @tvmaxdeportes #MásPanameñosQueNunca🇵🇦 — FEPAFUT (@fepafut) March 24, 2025 ¡CARRASQUILLA IGUALA LA FINAL! ⚽🇵🇦 — Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 24, 2025 Panama came to play. Took an early punch and never even wobbled. (Also got essentially the exact same penalty that Canada didn't get three days earlier.) Almost no matter how this final ends, Los Canaleros have been the most impressive team this week. Should be an excellent second half. Panama's Adalberto Carrasquilla gets the penalty past Luis Malagon to even things up just before halftime. Raúl Jiménez comes up clutch from the PK spot 🇲🇽Mexico are crowned Concacaf Nations League champions for the first time in their history 🏆 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 24, 2025 WE ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE! 🏆💥VAMOS MÉXICO!!! 🇲🇽❤️🔥#PorMexicoTodo — Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 24, 2025 95' | Double mexican subs➡️ S. Gimenez & J. Gallardo➡️ J. Angulo & O. Pineda — Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 24, 2025 ¡PENAL PERFECTO DE RAÚL PARA MÉXICO! ⚽🇲🇽 — Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 24, 2025 ⌚️Minuto 93'Cambio en #PanamáMayor🇵🇦Sale: Edgardo FariñaIngresa: Ismael Díaz🇵🇦 1-2 🇲🇽⚽️ Carrasquilla🏟️ @SoFiStadium 📺 @deportes_rpc y @tvmaxdeportes #MásPanameñosQueNunca🇵🇦 — FEPAFUT (@fepafut) March 24, 2025 Jimenez drills the likely game-winner in the 92nd minute! He's been the best player on the field all night. Raul Jimenez lines up to take the shot after a handball inside the box. It marred the 2023 semifinal between the U.S. and Mexico. It marred the 2024 final. As I wrote two years ago, soccer has failed the LGBTQ community. No, there is no easy solution; but also, CONCACAF, Mexican soccer authorities and many others have dragged their feet for years trying to find a solution. Suspended due to the "p***" chant. It will likely resume in a minute or two, but who knows what will happen if fans keep doing the chant. ... and organizers aren't doing anything about it. Mexico fans have screamed "p***" en masse at least five times tonight. The first one is supposed to trigger an in-stadium warning, and the start of the three-step protocol. We just got our first warning after the fifth (and loudest) one, in the 82nd minute. Both teams still going for it, with 14 minutes of the 90 to go. Both look capable of finding a second goal. Announced attendance, by the way, is 68,212. Not a sellout, but it very much filled in for the final. Mexico's best qualities and its clearest flaws have been on display here. They play with plenty of passion. They've clearly bought in to what Aguirre is preaching. They have two superb strikers, and Edson has been close to his combative best. But, they lack attacking structure and creativity. Roberto Alvarado just epitomized that when he let an attack fizzle with a sloppy touch on the right wing. So they haven't been able to overwhelm Panama. Still 1-1, 74th minute. 58' | Double mexican sub 🇲🇽⬅️ L. Romo & R. Alvarado➡️L. Chávez & A. Vega — Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 24, 2025 ⌚️Minuto 60'Cambio en #PanamáMayor🇵🇦Sale: Cecilio WatermanIngresa: José Fajardo🇵🇦 1-1 🇲🇽⚽️ Carrasquilla🏟️ @SoFiStadium 📺 @deportes_rpc y @tvmaxdeportes #MásPanameñosQueNunca🇵🇦 — FEPAFUT (@fepafut) March 24, 2025 ¡CARRASQUILLA IGUALA LA FINAL! ⚽🇵🇦 — Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 24, 2025 Panama came to play. Took an early punch and never even wobbled. (Also got essentially the exact same penalty that Canada didn't get three days earlier.) Almost no matter how this final ends, Los Canaleros have been the most impressive team this week. Should be an excellent second half. Panama's Adalberto Carrasquilla gets the penalty past Luis Malagon to even things up just before halftime.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USMNT, with another clunker, loses to Canada in Nations League third-place match
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After Thursday's stunning loss to Panama, the U.S. men's national team promised a response. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino assured fuming fans that a sleepy CONCACAF Nations League semifinal 'didn't describe, or doesn't describe, how we are.' Players said they'd 'look in the mirror' and 'raise the bar.' And yet, in Sunday's third-place match against Canada, they did none of that. They lost to their northern neighbors, 2-1, and deserved every last ounce of the defeat. They managed one solitary shot on goal over the game's first 84 minutes. In the face of criticism and doubts, they talked about how, 'if we want to be praised, we have to give people something to praise us about,' as midfielder Tyler Adams said Saturday. Instead, they regressed, and further disillusioned their supporters, and inflamed doubts about their readiness for a World Cup on home soil next summer. All involved promised that, after the 1-0 loss to Panama, Sunday's performance would be better. This Nations League consolation match would 'be an important game to see how we react,' Pochettino said Saturday. 'Mentality obviously needs to change,' Adams said hours later. 'We're gonna come out with that fighting spirit,' Tim Weah added. In the interim, they had one-on-one talks and a 'beautiful meeting,' Weah said, in which Pochettino pleaded for 'killer mentality' and more. The message, Weah said: 'We have to want it. We have to want to be here 100%. We have to fight.' But on Sunday, they floundered. For most of the first half, they didn't take the risks nor show the 'aggression' they said they would. In a stadium that was once again nine-tenths empty at kickoff, they played dull soccer, and conceded a 27th-minute goal before they'd even taken a shot of their own. Tani Oluwaseyi nets his first international goal for Canada 🇨🇦 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 23, 2025 Diego Luna tried to inject life into the USMNT, and into another sleepy game. He started an attacking move from the right side of midfield, and, with a driving off-ball run, propelled it into the penalty box. He poked a clever pass to Patrick Agyemang, who equalized with a firm finish. That @MLS connection 🔗Diego Luna leaves it on a plate for Patrick Agyemang who buries the @USMNT equalizer! 🇺🇸👏 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 23, 2025 Neither Luna nor Agyemang, though, could erase the mediocrity around them. Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, the team's two Italy-based stars, were quiet. Adams and Weah looked nothing like their typically active selves. The USMNT was once against stagnant. And not long after halftime, they conceded again. In the 59th minute, Jonathan David put Canada up 2-1. Jonathan David with a perfect left-footed strike to put Canada ahead at SoFi Stadium 💫 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 23, 2025 And that's how it ended, just as friendly between these two teams ended in September, with the U.S. beaten — and with all sorts of questions swirling about both the talent and the passion of this generation of USMNT players. Canada beat USA and take third place in the CONCACAF Nations League 💪🇨🇦 — OneFootball (@OneFootball) March 23, 2025 Another dismal performance for Mauricio Pochettino and the U.S. men's national team as they lose the third-place match on home soil. Next up, the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Final. — U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 23, 2025 David delivering for Canada! 🇨🇦 — Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 23, 2025 78' - SubstitutionIN: Brian WhiteOUT: Patrick Agyemang — U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 23, 2025 5 - Jonathan David (2 goals, 3 assists) has five career goal contributions against the USMNT, more than any other player since his first match against the U.S. in October 2019. Difference. — OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) March 23, 2025 Tanner Tessman, Yunus Musah and Gio Reyna replace Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams. 🇨🇦 2-1 🇺🇸Jonathan David puts @CANMNT_Official in front. 💫 — Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 23, 2025 Jesse Marsch visibly frustrated after being shown a red card and sent to the locker room in the Concacaf Nations League third-place match 🟥 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 23, 2025 Jonathan David puts Canada back on top with a close-range golazo after a defensive lapse by the U.S. A deserved goal. After the U.S. failed to play out of its own defensive third, Ahmed splits Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie with a pass to Jonathan David. Mark McKenzie, in a 1-v-2 situation in the box, stands off David, who finishes with his left foot. 2-1 to Canada. After Jonathan David slipped in the box — and after the Adams tackle, which was a more justified shout for a penalty — Marsch fumed and ran all the way onto the field, in front of the U.S. bench, raging at the referee. Had to be restrained by staff. The referee didn't give it. Replays showed it was borderline. Nonetheless, it was a clumsy tackle from Tyler Adams, who hasn't been good today (after being one of the few U.S. players who put in a respectable performance against Panama) This first half has a January camp look and feel. It is more about emotion and mistakes than actual ability and design—it's a tough watch. Diego Luna is the most active and bright on both sides of the ball. #USMNT — herculez gomez (@herculezg) March 23, 2025 This has not been a good U.S. performance, by any stretch of the imagination. But Diego Luna did exactly what he was brought in to do: provide a spark. He picked up the ball on the right, came infield with it, released it, and continued his run all the way into the left half of the penalty box. There, he received it in stride, and poked a clever pass to Patrick Agyemang for the U.S. goal. Some questioned whether Luna could hang at this level. Consider those questions answered (at least for now, today). 1-1. That @MLS connection 🔗Diego Luna leaves it on a plate for Patrick Agyemang who buries the @USMNT equalizer! 🇺🇸👏 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 23, 2025 35' - GOAL - Diego Luna with the pass to Pat who finds the back of the net! — U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 23, 2025 The USMNT responds with a goal of their own after some remarkable playmaking by Diego Luna, who gets the ball to Patrick Agyemang inside the box for an easy look and blast into the net! GOAL 🇨🇦It's TANI TIME 😎 Tani Oluwaseyi scores his first for the #CanMNT 🇨🇦 and it's 1-0 over the #USMNT 🇺🇸 just before the half-hour mark ✨🔴 Watch LIVE on OS and @TSN_Sports — OneSoccer (@onesoccer) March 23, 2025 🇨🇦 Canada leads the U.S. in three straight games for the first time since 1985.🇨🇦 Canada has scored first in consecutive AWAY games vs the U.S. for the second time. Other was two games in 1926 and 1957. — Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) March 23, 2025 Canada beat USA and take third place in the CONCACAF Nations League 💪🇨🇦 — OneFootball (@OneFootball) March 23, 2025 Another dismal performance for Mauricio Pochettino and the U.S. men's national team as they lose the third-place match on home soil. Next up, the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Final. — U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 23, 2025 David delivering for Canada! 🇨🇦 — Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 23, 2025 78' - SubstitutionIN: Brian WhiteOUT: Patrick Agyemang — U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 23, 2025 5 - Jonathan David (2 goals, 3 assists) has five career goal contributions against the USMNT, more than any other player since his first match against the U.S. in October 2019. Difference. — OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) March 23, 2025 Tanner Tessman, Yunus Musah and Gio Reyna replace Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams. 🇨🇦 2-1 🇺🇸Jonathan David puts @CANMNT_Official in front. 💫 — Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 23, 2025 Jesse Marsch visibly frustrated after being shown a red card and sent to the locker room in the Concacaf Nations League third-place match 🟥 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 23, 2025 Jonathan David puts Canada back on top with a close-range golazo after a defensive lapse by the U.S. A deserved goal. After the U.S. failed to play out of its own defensive third, Ahmed splits Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie with a pass to Jonathan David. Mark McKenzie, in a 1-v-2 situation in the box, stands off David, who finishes with his left foot. 2-1 to Canada. After Jonathan David slipped in the box — and after the Adams tackle, which was a more justified shout for a penalty — Marsch fumed and ran all the way onto the field, in front of the U.S. bench, raging at the referee. Had to be restrained by staff. The referee didn't give it. Replays showed it was borderline. Nonetheless, it was a clumsy tackle from Tyler Adams, who hasn't been good today (after being one of the few U.S. players who put in a respectable performance against Panama) This first half has a January camp look and feel. It is more about emotion and mistakes than actual ability and design—it's a tough watch. Diego Luna is the most active and bright on both sides of the ball. #USMNT — herculez gomez (@herculezg) March 23, 2025 This has not been a good U.S. performance, by any stretch of the imagination. But Diego Luna did exactly what he was brought in to do: provide a spark. He picked up the ball on the right, came infield with it, released it, and continued his run all the way into the left half of the penalty box. There, he received it in stride, and poked a clever pass to Patrick Agyemang for the U.S. goal. Some questioned whether Luna could hang at this level. Consider those questions answered (at least for now, today). 1-1. That @MLS connection 🔗Diego Luna leaves it on a plate for Patrick Agyemang who buries the @USMNT equalizer! 🇺🇸👏 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 23, 2025 35' - GOAL - Diego Luna with the pass to Pat who finds the back of the net! — U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 23, 2025 The USMNT responds with a goal of their own after some remarkable playmaking by Diego Luna, who gets the ball to Patrick Agyemang inside the box for an easy look and blast into the net! GOAL 🇨🇦It's TANI TIME 😎 Tani Oluwaseyi scores his first for the #CanMNT 🇨🇦 and it's 1-0 over the #USMNT 🇺🇸 just before the half-hour mark ✨🔴 Watch LIVE on OS and @TSN_Sports — OneSoccer (@onesoccer) March 23, 2025 🇨🇦 Canada leads the U.S. in three straight games for the first time since 1985.🇨🇦 Canada has scored first in consecutive AWAY games vs the U.S. for the second time. Other was two games in 1926 and 1957. — Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) March 23, 2025
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
For the USMNT and U.S., World Cup prep gets off to 'embarrassing,' sleepy start
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The evening began with 60,000 vacant seats and ended with a lapse that epitomized the USMNT's sleepiness. It was supposed to jumpstart World Cup preparations; instead, it was lifeless and 'painful.' It began with hope, that these CONCACAF Nations League finals would energize a distracted soccer nation; and serve as a crucial step for its national team under head coach Mauricio Pochettino. But U.S. fans hardly showed up to SoFi Stadium, and U.S. players fell 1-0 to Panama. It was 'frustrating,' defender Chris Richards said of the match. 'Disappointing, of course,' in the words of star attacker Christian Pulisic. Former star Clint Dempsey, now a pundit, had another word: "This is embarrassing." There was 'no urgency,' goalkeeper Matt Turner pointed out. Pochettino agreed, and in fact, he noted, Panama's dramatic 94th-minute goal was 'a clear example.' Pulisic played a sloppy headed pass. Midfielders lost 50-50s. Defenders recovered slowly. 'Organization? Good. Superiority? Yes — 4-v-2 in the middle of the pitch,' Pochettino said postgame. 'But we lose the ball. We were not aggressive in the duels. We lose the duel, and then we concede.' CECILIO WATERMAN AT THE DEATH🔥PANAMA ARE HEADED TO THE CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE FINAL 🇵🇦 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 21, 2025 He bemoaned a lack of 'aggression.' A lack of intensity, perhaps hunger. 'We didn't compete in the way that the game required,' Pochettino said, and the one thing everybody wondered was: Why? Why, at the start of a year before a World Cup year, was there 'no urgency'? Why, with six training camps to go until a once-in-a-generation opportunity to 'change soccer in America forever,' and with a regional trophy at stake, and with World Cup roster spots up for grabs, did they look so disinterested, cautious and uninspired? Although none would say it, surely the dull, hollow atmosphere had something to do with it. These are players who perform every week in front of 60,000 maniacs in Milan and Mönchengladbach, at the cauldrons of Crystal Palace and Juventus, in front of fans who care about their clubs. On Thursday, they walked onto the field where they'll open their World Cup next summer, and looked around, and saw … one solitary, not-quite full section of diehard U.S. fans. A few thousand spectators were scattered throughout the gleaming, futuristic arena; they were hardly making any noise. The surrounding seats were empty because, well, it was 4 p.m. on a Thursday. Players pointed that out; none blamed the fans who didn't show. But they were also empty because the American public is not, at least for now, enthused by this USMNT. There are tens of millions of soccer fans in the United States; their interests, though, are diverse. And they've been bombarded by an endless stream of international matches that blur together. 'There's so much football being played,' U.S. defender Tim Ream said. Fans can't get up for all of it, month after month, year after year, again and again. And many have been priced out. Tickets, whether sold by U.S. Soccer or CONCACAF, are often obscenely expensive. They're only going to get more obscene next summer. World Cup stadiums will likely be full, but probably full of casual fans who can afford to go, not USMNT supporters. There will not necessarily be a classic 'host country bump,' a wave of enthusiasm that U.S. players can ride deep into the tournament, a raucous atmosphere of rah-rah red, white and blue. So, as Dempsey said on the Paramount+ broadcast at halftime, 'you gotta create your own energy sometimes.' 'When the crowd is not a full crowd,' Ream agreed, 'you have to find your own motivation.' Referencing Mexico's status as the 7 p.m. headliner of Thursday's doubleheader, Dempsey also told the current team: 'You gotta go out and prove that you should be the main show.' And they didn't. 'I don't think we were as competitive as we needed to be,' midfielder Tyler Adams admitted. So, again: Why? There were other ready-made excuses. There were multi-leg flights from Europe, and quick turnarounds, and jet lag. There was the redundancy of these CONCACAF games, against the same old opponents, with more enticing matches on the horizon. But the other three teams who played here Thursday night found that necessary fire. Panamanians fought to 'bring joy to the country,' as goalscorer Cecilio Waterman said. Mexico always does that. Canada, even in a 2-0 loss in the second semi, matched El Tri's intensity, and also fought with a bigger picture in mind. 'Our country is under threat, under attack,' defender Alistair Johnston said in the buildup, referencing U.S. President Donald Trump's hostility. Neither Johnston nor Canada's American coach, Jesse Marsch, shied away from that political context. U.S. players did shy away, deflecting questions, distancing themselves from the broader state of their country. And on Thursday, well, they looked like they had little to fight for. It was not the first time they have played without the necessary passion. What makes it alarming is that passion, in all its forms, is one of the first things that Pochettino, since taking the U.S. job in September, has tried to instill. 'He makes it known to us, 'Hey, football's not always about being beautiful,'' Weston McKennie said Wednesday. ''It's also about the grit, the desire, the nastiness that you can put into the game as well.'' This, the first single elimination game under Pochettino, would have been an excellent time to show it. 'It was a perfect opportunity to start rebuilding [that mentality], right now,' Adams said. Instead, they passed the ball unambitiously. They moved without purpose. There were tactical problems, yes, but 'we cannot blame the tactic, the strategy, the game plan,' Pochettino said. 'You need aggression,' he explained, with and without the ball. 'If you don't have aggression, it's impossible. Because the opponent only knows that we are going to play into [teammates'] feet. You are going to play safe, you are not going to take risks. If you want to play football, you need to take risks.' And he concluded with another implicit diagnosis. 'OK, we are USA — but you cannot win with your shirt,' nor with the prestige of the clubs you play for, Pochettino told reporters — and, by extension, his players. 'You need to show. You need to come here, and be better, and suffer, and win the duels, and work hard. If not, it's not going to be enough.'
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USMNT flunks Mauricio Pochettino's first test, loses 1-0 to Panama in CONCACAF Nations League semifinals
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The U.S. men's national team failed its first competitive test of the Mauricio Pochettino era in rather embarrassing fashion, losing to Panama 1-0 in a CONCACAF Nations League semifinal here at a half-empty SoFi Stadium. The Americans played timidly, unimaginatively and laboriously for 90 scoreless minutes. They were booed off the field at halftime. They looked uninspired, even with a home-soil World Cup on the horizon. They seemed destined for extra time against a team they were heavily favored to beat — and one that, based solely on talent, they should have beaten. But they couldn't. And then, in the 94th minute, the seemingly unthinkable happened. Cecilio Waterman beat U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner. [You could win $25K in the Women's Bracket Mayhem contest. Enter now!] Panama prevailed, and jumped for joy at midfield as Christian Pulisic, and Weston McKennie, and the rest of the USMNT's golden generation trudged out of sight, into Sunday's third-place match. CECILIO WATERMAN AT THE DEATH🔥PANAMA ARE HEADED TO THE CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE FINAL 🇵🇦 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 21, 2025 They played just as they had toward the tail end of the Gregg Berhalter era. Berhalter was fired following the Copa América, largely because the U.S. lost to Panama 2-1 after playing most of a group-stage match with 10 men. Pochettino replaced Berhalter last fall. His mandate was to revive a plateauing program. His early results were largely positive. But in his first true elimination game, with 11 men, the U.S. suffered a familiar fate. And in a sense, they regressed. The Americans had won all three prior editions of the Nations League. Under Berhalter, in semifinals and finals, they'd beaten Mexico three times, and Canada, Jamaica and Honduras once apiece. But Panama posed different problems. Under head coach Thomas Christiansen, Los Canaleros are now 4-1 against the U.S. in competitive games. They frustrated the USMNT yet again on Thursday, and earned a famous result. And they gave Pochettino, and players, and fans a lot to chew on at the start of this last full calendar year before a landmark World Cup. "The way we approached the game and started the game wasn't in the right way," Pochettino said. "We played too slow," he added. "We didn't show aggression with the ball" — nor without it. "The first half was really painful to see," Pochettino said. They played with none of 'the grit, the desire, the nastiness' that McKennie said Pochettino has been trying to instill, and as a result, they have relinquished their grip on regional supremacy; they flunked one of only two competitions that they'll have between now and June 2026; and they got this critical phase of World Cup preparations off to a downright dreadful start. CECILIO WATERMAN AT THE DEATH🔥PANAMA ARE HEADED TO THE CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE FINAL 🇵🇦 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 21, 2025 A shocking ending as Panama scores in the final minute of stoppage time to steal the win. ¡Cecilio Waterman la manda al fondo de la red! 🇵🇦💥 — Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 21, 2025 PANAMA TAKES THE LEAD OVER THE USMNT IN STOPPAGE TIME 😱🇵🇦 — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 21, 2025 IT'S 1-0 PANAMA WITH MINUTES LEFT IN THE MATCH This game is crying out for somebody who can make a play out of nothing in tight spaces. Gio Reyna and Diego Luna are two of maybe three U.S. players capable of doing that. And yet Pochettino hasn't turned to either of them. CLOSE FROM PATRICK AGYEMANG 😱The USMNT have some momentum late 👀 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 21, 2025 A few injury stoppages over the past 10 minutes. One chance for the U.S., created by Weston McKennie for Pat Agyemang, was comfortably saved. Still 0-0, 85th minute. 79' - SubstitutionIN: Mark McKenzieOUT: Chris Richards — U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 21, 2025 The changes have not changed anything so far. Still dull, congested, and 0-0. Apologies to those who've spent an hour and a half of their life watching. Lads. 🇺🇸@HoustonDynamo | @CharlotteFC — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 21, 2025 ... but Gio Reyna is not one of them. Pochettino subbing in Patrick Agyemang and Jack McGlynn for Josh Sargent and Tanner Tessmann. ... has been their Tyler Adams-reinforced defensive solidity. Panama has created nothing of note. (Which, of course, Panama will be just fine with if the U.S. also creates nothing of note. But still, the U.S. structure, both defensively and in defensive transition, has been good.) One of the USMNT's problems in the first half was that Panama, with its narrow 5-4-1, was forcing the Americans to attack through wide areas... and the U.S. had nobody capable of making plays with the ball at his feet on the right. So, Pulisic and McKennie have swapped. McKennie is now in the left halfspace, and Pulisic is playing wide right. Some early pressure from the U.S. to start the ... by the few thousand USMNT fans who are actually here. It's 0-0. Roaring start to the year before a World Cup year! (That's sarcasm, to be clear.) For a semifinal, between two teams that have played chippy, physical affairs in the past, with a World Cup in the not-too-distant future... this has been quite dull. A pretty sparse crowd — many of whom are wearing green and waiting for the second game — hasn't helped. JOSH SARGENT NEARLY SCORES HIS FIRST USMNT GOAL IN FIVE AND A HALF YEARS 😱 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 20, 2025 ... Tim Weah was offside in the buildup, by several yards. A few moments later, Sargent scored, but an easy call to disallow it. After a rocky, tentative stretch between minutes 5 and 15, the USMNT just created two chances. First, McKennie found Sargent with a cut-back in the box, and the striker's shot deflected off the post. Next, Weah found McKennie with a cross, and McKennie's back-post header, from pretty darn close range, was right down the goalkeeper's throat. CECILIO WATERMAN AT THE DEATH🔥PANAMA ARE HEADED TO THE CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE FINAL 🇵🇦 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 21, 2025 A shocking ending as Panama scores in the final minute of stoppage time to steal the win. ¡Cecilio Waterman la manda al fondo de la red! 🇵🇦💥 — Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 21, 2025 PANAMA TAKES THE LEAD OVER THE USMNT IN STOPPAGE TIME 😱🇵🇦 — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 21, 2025 IT'S 1-0 PANAMA WITH MINUTES LEFT IN THE MATCH This game is crying out for somebody who can make a play out of nothing in tight spaces. Gio Reyna and Diego Luna are two of maybe three U.S. players capable of doing that. And yet Pochettino hasn't turned to either of them. CLOSE FROM PATRICK AGYEMANG 😱The USMNT have some momentum late 👀 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 21, 2025 A few injury stoppages over the past 10 minutes. One chance for the U.S., created by Weston McKennie for Pat Agyemang, was comfortably saved. Still 0-0, 85th minute. 79' - SubstitutionIN: Mark McKenzieOUT: Chris Richards — U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 21, 2025 The changes have not changed anything so far. Still dull, congested, and 0-0. Apologies to those who've spent an hour and a half of their life watching. Lads. 🇺🇸@HoustonDynamo | @CharlotteFC — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 21, 2025 ... but Gio Reyna is not one of them. Pochettino subbing in Patrick Agyemang and Jack McGlynn for Josh Sargent and Tanner Tessmann. ... has been their Tyler Adams-reinforced defensive solidity. Panama has created nothing of note. (Which, of course, Panama will be just fine with if the U.S. also creates nothing of note. But still, the U.S. structure, both defensively and in defensive transition, has been good.) One of the USMNT's problems in the first half was that Panama, with its narrow 5-4-1, was forcing the Americans to attack through wide areas... and the U.S. had nobody capable of making plays with the ball at his feet on the right. So, Pulisic and McKennie have swapped. McKennie is now in the left halfspace, and Pulisic is playing wide right. Some early pressure from the U.S. to start the ... by the few thousand USMNT fans who are actually here. It's 0-0. Roaring start to the year before a World Cup year! (That's sarcasm, to be clear.) For a semifinal, between two teams that have played chippy, physical affairs in the past, with a World Cup in the not-too-distant future... this has been quite dull. A pretty sparse crowd — many of whom are wearing green and waiting for the second game — hasn't helped. JOSH SARGENT NEARLY SCORES HIS FIRST USMNT GOAL IN FIVE AND A HALF YEARS 😱 — Golazo America (@GolazoAmerica) March 20, 2025 ... Tim Weah was offside in the buildup, by several yards. A few moments later, Sargent scored, but an easy call to disallow it. After a rocky, tentative stretch between minutes 5 and 15, the USMNT just created two chances. First, McKennie found Sargent with a cut-back in the box, and the striker's shot deflected off the post. Next, Weah found McKennie with a cross, and McKennie's back-post header, from pretty darn close range, was right down the goalkeeper's throat.
