Tyler Adams celebrates after putting the USMNT up 1-0 heading into halftime of the Concacaf Nations League final against Mexico. (Photo by Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Fresh off its dramatic 3-1 win over Jamaica on Thursday, the U.S. men’s national team met a familiar foe in Mexico during Sunday’s Concacaf Nations League final. And, for the third time in as many tries in the tournament's brief existence, lifted the winner's trophy.
Head coach Greg Berhalter made the decision to insert Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna into the starting lineup despite questions about the duo's fitness. The bold move paid off with Adams scoring just before halftime with an absolute laser of a goal and Reyna adding to the tally in the second half. Mexico couldn't find an answer and sent their fans home with another 2-0 loss to their heated rival.
Here's how the match unfolded:
Concacaf Nations League final live tracker: USMNT vs. Mexico lineup, highlights, analysis
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 25, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
5 - Giovanni Reyna has been involved in five goals (2 goals, 3 assists) in three career finals, two more than any other player in #USMNT history. Closer. pic.twitter.com/rysAkDTqLb
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MARCH 24: Guillermo Ochoa #13 of Mexico shakes hands with Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States during the coin toss prior to the Concacaf Nations League Final at AT&T Stadium on March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
Henry Bushnell
Weston McKennie sees a yellow card for grabbing Chucky Lozano and halting a potential break.
One of the USMNT's feistiest (and most important) players now needs to go 60-plus minutes without getting involved in any scuffles or afters. Not ideal.
Henry Bushnell
Relatively tame opening 20 minutes, but U.S.-Mexico standards.
Physical, but not yet spicy.
Pulisic had the best chance five minutes in. Not much of note since.
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) March 25, 2024
Henry Bushnell
Big USMNT lineup decisions
Between fitness concerns, minutes restrictions, disparate club form, Thursday struggles, and a short turnaround after a 120-minute grind, this had to be one of the most difficult USMNT lineups for Gregg Berhalter to select.
His big calls:
Haji Wright over Folarin Balogun up front
Gio Reyna. Can he go 90, or even 75, after going 75 on Thursday? He hasn't started a soccer game of any kind, for club or country, since Nov. 1, 2023. (And before Thursday, he hadn't played more than 45 minutes since then either.)
Tyler Adams over Yunus Musah. Adams hasn't started a competitive game in over a year. His stated capacity, as of Monday, was "45-60 minutes." He played a little less than 45 on Thursday.
(Tim Ream over Miles Robinson at center back was the easy call, and likely always the plan.)
Yahoo Sports Staff
Gio Reyna tonight is starting his first competitive soccer game since Nov. 1, 2023.
Tyler Adams is starting his first competitive soccer game since March 11, 2023.
Two big calls in a game that's going to require a lot of intensity.
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