March 23 – Canada hustled and bustled an at times indifferent USA to take third place in the Nations League with a 2-1 win.
That indifference has communicated itself to US supporters who were noticeable by their absence in the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
There has often been a disconnect between US football fans and their national team, but with all the hype around 2026 and what it will do for the country the opportunity is to build that unbreakable bond – however the team plays – that is in the DNA of the world’s other footballing nations. This turn out was, well, pathetic.
But then so at times was the challenge the US put up to a Canadian team that under Jesse Marsch seem to know who they are and what they want to do – and they will die trying.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team don’t seem to know why they are here, what is required of them and one wonders if they even know each other’s names.
This is a far cry from the US team that graced the Nations League final four in 2023 in Las Vegas with panache, commitment and an intoxicating display of attaching football under BJ Callaghan’s interim stewardship.
Goals from Tani Oluwaseji and, of course, Jonathan David (who could easily have had a hat-trick), were enough for the Canadians to reinforce their independence and superiority over their politically noisy neighbour. Patrick Agyemang’s response to keep the game level going into the second half showed what might be possible but there is a long long way to go and not much time ahead of them. All the doubts around whether Pochettino is really the man for a winning mission are again screaming from the sideline. PSG, Chelsea and even some Spurs and Saints fans will be saying ‘I told you so’.
Mauricio Pochettino made five changes to his starting line from the stuttering semi-final that also lacked passion and ultimately cutting edge.
In came Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie, Diego Luna, Maximilian Arfsten and Agyemang. Luna and Agyemang were to prove decisive in combining to keep the US in the game in the first half.
Jesse Marsch made three changes of his own, starting Mathieu Choiniere, Tajon Buchanan and Tani Oluwaseyi.
The two superstars from either side tangled early on with Christian Pulisic giving Alfonso Davies a push in the back within the first minute, just to let him know he is there. It was ultimately the promise of not very much as neither of them were to last the full 90 minutes.
In the 9th minute Tajon Buchanan, who was creatively working both sides of the pitch to threaten the US backline, drove into the middle to have his touch on the ball loop over the bar. Canada were warming to their task.
On 10 minutes, Davies, who had earlier twisted his knee as he skidded to cut out a defensive ball was returned to cotton wool storage on the bench, subbed for Niko Sugur who slotted into the centre of Canada’s defensive midfield.
On 21 minutes a long throw from Alistair Johnson, filling Davies’ slot at left back, ended with a Canada shot on goal and a goal line scramble to keep it out. Canada were scenting blood.
Minutes later a Johnson cross was cleared for a corner.
The US were on the back foot and on 26 minutes paid the penalty. Ali Ahmed drove the ball into the middle, David scuffed his shot but it fell to Oluwaseji who calmly right footed past Matt Turner. Not even a lengthy VAR review could provide relief for Porchettino.
Pulisic might have though. Sparked into action he twice had barnstorming runs from deep at the Canadian defense but he was on the trail of the lonesome pine with no suitors to help him out.
On 36 minutes the US at last managed to get more men forward and reaped the benefit. Tim Weah released Luna who slid the ball to Agyemang who sidefooted through a slightly too slow Dwayne St Clair – 1-1.
With the game now opening up and Canada in particular starting to find a passing rhythm, a long throw into the box from Johnson eventually found its way to the head of David, but over the bar. His claim for a penalty was ignored.
With the score 1-1 at half time the tie had warmed up nicely, holding promise for the second half and even the possibility of some US redemption? It wasn’t to be.
Canada started the second half on the offensive and on 49 minutes Weston McKennie, generally more grunt than sophistication, brought David down in the box. Mexican referee Katia Garcia – excellent throughout – ruled David was not in control of the ball. Two minute later Oluwaseyi fired over.
On 53 minutes David was clean through but taking the ball to the right of Turner lost his footing under a challenge and failed to get a shot away – again no foul.
Close to the hour mark the Canadian pressure paid off. Ali Ahmed found David just inside the box who curled his shot round Turner’s dive to the right – 2-1 Canada.
It was the US’s turn to take the play to Canada. Pulisic had a free kick on the edge of the box go wide. He was then pulled down on another barnstorming run from deep in to the Canadian half. At last it looked like there some intent from the USA.
Pochettino intervened. Off came Pulisic – perhaps the US’s biggest and most committed threat – and McKennie, on came Yunus Musah and Gio Reyna.
Pochettino then brought off Agyemang for Brian White.
With the clock running down the US had a somewhat belated and half-hearted push for a goal as the Canadians sat too deep. An 89th minute corner should have yielded more but there just wasn’t enough quality or composure to make chances count. Reyna curled a shot wide deep in added time, before getting booked at the other end for a petulant foul – at least it was a show of passion, perhaps he should have been on earlier?
But then who knows, certainly not Pochettino, who was ultimately flattered by the 2-1 final score.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1742906625labto1742906625ofdlr1742906625owedi1742906625sni@n1742906625osloh1742906625cin.l1742906625uap1742906625