Canadian ahead Jonathan David (proper) wheels away after scoring his staff’s successful objective towards the USA (Frederic J. Brown)
Jonathan David scored the winner as Canada claimed a 2-1 victory over the USA within the CONCACAF Nations League third place recreation on Sunday.
David’s second-half strike earned Canada a well-deserved win over their 2026 World Cup co-hosts at a sparsely attended SoFi Stadium, with the US slumping to their second straight aggressive defeat underneath new coach Mauricio Pochettino.
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A lackuster first-half show from the USA contained not one of the battle and risk-taking urgency that Pochettino had demanded after Thursday’s abject 1-0 semi-final loss to Panama.
Pochettino, who described his staff’s efficiency towards Panama as “actually painful”, expressed disappointment following Sunday’s loss — however insisted there was nonetheless loads of time to show issues round earlier than subsequent 12 months’s World Cup.
“My response is disappointment once more,” the previous Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea supervisor mentioned. “I believe we’re all answerable for these two outcomes. However there’s nonetheless a whole lot of time to the World Cup.
“If we’re on this scenario, in a single 12 months’s time, for positive, I’ll let you know, ‘Houston, now we have an issue. S.O.S.”.
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With the SoFi Stadium barely 1 / 4 full, the low-key environment appeared to have an effect on each groups, with neither managing a single shot — on or astray — till Ismael Kone’s deflected effort on 22 minutes.
That near-miss ought to have been a wake-up name for the US, however 5 minutes later, extra lackadaisical marking by the hosts led to Canada’s opening objective.
Ali Ahmed’s low cross was met by David simply inside the world, and the France-based ahead’s shot ricocheted into the trail of Nigeria-born striker Tani Oluwaseyi who stabbed house the end for 1-0.
– ‘Able to compete’ –
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The US regarded shocked by the objective and once more struggled to muster a direct response.
However on 35 minutes, the US leveled with their first shot of the sport.
Tim Weah reduce in from the left flank and located Diego Luna within the space, and the Actual Salt Lake winger deftly handed to an unmarked Patrick Agyemang who rifled within the equalizer.
But any hopes Pochettino may need had that Agyemang’s objective would act as a catalyst proved misplaced because the groups headed in for half-time.
As an alternative it was Canada who went on the entrance foot and regarded likeliest to attain after the restart.
David had alarm bells ringing within the fiftieth minute after tumbling to the deck in a collision with Tyler Adams within the penalty space. Canadian appeals for a spot-kick had been waved away.
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Two minutes later, Oluwaseyi shot over the bar after a sloppy Adams back-pass.
Within the 54th minute, David appeared poised to make it 2-1 after going clear by on objective.
However US defender Max Arfsten did simply sufficient to off-balance David, who slipped over within the space as he regarded to examine inside.
Canada coach Jesse Marsch screamed for a penalty and was subsequently proven a pink card for his protest by referee Katia Itzel Garcia.
However on 59 minutes, Canada received the breakthrough their dominance deserved, with neat interaction between Tajon Buchanan and Ahmed releasing David inside the world, who curled an unstoppable shot previous US goalkeeper Matt Turner.
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Canada’s assistant coach Mauro Biello mentioned the staff had been decided to bounce again after Thursday’s semi-final loss to Mexico.
“We got here into this event eager to win,” Biello mentioned. “It did not go our means. Immediately was one other huge check for us towards an excellent American staff…it confirmed that we’re able to compete and beat all people on this area.”
Mexico face Panama within the Nations League ultimate later Sunday.
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