USMNT qualifies for Copa America regardless of 2-1 loss in Trinidad

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Doug McIntyre

Soccer Journalist

A 10-guy U.S. men’s national crew dropped 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago Monday in Port of Spain, but the 2024 Copa América hosts will however contend in upcoming summer’s event alongside Argentina, Brazil and 13 other squads from South The us and the CONCACAF location soon after qualifying for the event with a 4-2 combination win.

The a single-purpose defeat blended with very last week’s 3- victory around the Soca Warriors in the house-and-household collection was adequate to mail the USMNT — who reached the Copa América semifinals in 2016, the very last time 16 groups from the Americas competed — to the event, which kicks off up coming June.

Antonee “Jedi” Robinson experienced the lone U.S. target Monday, with U.S. defender Sergiño Dest sent off afterwards in the 1st 50 percent just after collecting two yellow playing cards for dissent.

“We began the match pretty effectively I assume,” Robinson advised the formal broadcaster afterward. “Then definitely a moment of unprofessionalism type of went towards us.”

Below are a couple of fast takeaways from Monday’s match.

Play of the game

Gregg Berhalter’s group started off the match on the front foot, with Brenden Aaronson and Folarin Balogun each going shut in excess of the first 15 or so minutes Monday night time. So when USMNT remaining back Antonee “Jedi” Robinson scored for the 2nd consecutive recreation to set the website visitors in advance and up 4- total much less than a 50 %-hour into Monday’s match at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad’s funds, it appeared like the rest of the match would be a formality.

Dest established up Robinson with a driven cross from the still left facet, and the still left back again dove to head the ball earlier Soca Warriors keeper Denzil Smith:

“Our aim was basically fullback to fullback, which we often like,” Berhalter said. “We have experienced a number of chances with Brendan Aaronson, Balo, with Rico [Pepi]. So, overall, happy with it. But I wish we would’ve experienced a even larger physique of work to go on since just after the pink card it was a lot more difficult.”

Turning position

The Us citizens had been very well on their way to advancing the two to the Copa and to March’s CONCACAF Nations League finals at that position. Then a moment of madness by Dest transformed every thing.

Nonetheless seemingly fuming from what he thought was an uncalled foul by Guatemalan referee Walter López, Dest became incensed when the assistant referee referred to as a ball Dest was making an attempt to corral on the proper touchline out. Dest booted the ball into the balmy Caribbean evening. López, understandably, promptly cautioned him.

But Dest kept speaking to López as his teammates tried using in vain to direct him absent. Then he talked some more. López brandished the yellow card the next time in 30 seconds, then attained into his back pocket and confirmed Dest the purple. The PSV Eindhoven suitable again — who begun all 4 video games for the U.S. at previous year’s World Cup in Qatar, then trudged off the field in disgrace as defender Tim Ream and keeper Matt Turner gave him an earful on his way to the dressing home.

It was maybe the stupidest sending off in USMNT record, and it immediately transformed the complexion of the contest. It took the hosts just four minutes to capitalize on their numerical gain, with Reon Moore equalizing prior to the 50 % was above.

“We begun really properly, every little thing was likely efficiently and then a regrettable moment that put us at a huge drawback,” explained Berhalter, introducing that Dest experienced apologized to his teammates at halftime. “We need to have to realize that for us to be profitable, we have to have absolutely everyone on the subject.”

Alvin Jones — whose target in nearby Couva in one more 2-1 T&T get 6 yrs prevented the People from qualifying foe the 2018 Entire world Cup — then set the home aspect forward with a shot that handcuffed Turner.

Dest will now pass up the Nations League semifinal in March. Specified the seriousness of Monday’s transgression, will Berhalter even invite the 23-calendar year-aged to that camp at all? Requested if the suspension will element into his decision, the mentor advised it would not.

“What I don’t want this to convert into is a witch hunt,” Berhalter explained. “He is a young player. He’s a superb part of his workforce. He is going to discover, he’s heading to develop. He built a dumb oversight. He is aware that. He apologized to the crew and we go forward.”

Crucial stat

U.S. midfielder Yunus Musah received his 33rd U.S. cap Monday, placing a new software document for appearances by player prior to turning 21. The earlier mark experienced been shared by Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan and Christian Pulisic — very superior company for the AC Milan guy. Musah celebrates his 21st birthday later on this thirty day period.

What’s upcoming for the USMNT

Monday’s video game finishes a typically productive but decidedly strange 2023 for the American squad. The yr began with Berhalter’s foreseeable future as coach in question subsequent the Environment Cup drama involving Gio Reyna and his mothers and fathers, both equally previous national teamers. The U.S. trounced Mexico and Canada beneath its 2nd interim mentor of the 12 months, B.J. Callaghan, with Berhalter rehired as coach in-in between those people video games.

He returned to the sideline in September and presided in excess of 4 friendlies — wins around Ghana, Oman and Uzbekistan and a 3-1 reduction to four-time Earth Cup champ Germany — just before using on T&T about two legs this month. The U.S. got the position accomplished in the stop, advancing to both of those to Copa and in the Nations League.

Their semifinal opponent for the latter competitors, to be staged in Arlington Texas in March, has not been established yet. But the aim for the USMNT couldn’t be clearer: a 3rd consecutive Nations League title.

Doug McIntyre is a soccer author for FOX Athletics who has covered United States men’s and women’s countrywide groups at FIFA Planet Cups on five continents. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.