Canada stopped by Americans in Concacaf Nations League Final

Canada are 2022-23 runners up in Concacaf Nations League after they were stopped by the back-to-back winners USA in the confederation’s Sunday night Final. Christopher Richards scored the match winner on a header in the 12th minute and Folarin Balogun doubled the lead on the 2:0 goal in the 35th minute.

Canada reached the Final with a 2:0 win over Panama while USA beat Mexico 3:0 on Thursday’s Semifinals night. While USA lifted the trophy and Canada took home Concacaf Silver, Mexico won bronze after a 1:0 victory over Panama in Sunday’s Match for Third Place. USA’s Christian Pulisic was named the tournament’s Best Player while their goalkeeper Matt Turner won the Golden Glove.

“In Finals you have to take your moments and the USA did just that,” said John Herdman, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “The effort was there and we had our chances. It’s tough to lose a Final but we are pushing and will be back stronger.”

Canada Soccer Match Centre
https://canadasoccer.com/national-team-match-upcoming/?matchId=4468

Canada’s 23 Concacaf Silver Medal winners were Atiba Hutchinson, Samuel Adekugbe, Moïse Bombito, Milan Borjan, Tajon Buchanan, Lucas Cavallini, Jonathan David, Alphonso Davies, Stephen Eustáquio, Junior Hoilett, Atiba Hutchinson, Alistair Johnston, Scott Kennedy, Ismaël Koné, Cyle Larin, Richie Laryea, Victor Loturi, Tom McGill, Kamal Miller, Jonathan Osorio, Dayne St. Clair, Steven Vitória, David Wotherspoon, and Dominick Zator. For captain Hutchinson, it marked the end of his career as a footballer in which he set Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team records for all-time appearances, starts, minutes and wins.

In the Sunday Final, USA scored their first goal on a set play from a Giovanni Reyna corner kick headed down by Richards. They scored their second goal on a quick transition after Reyna played the give and go with Timothy Weah and then fed goalscorer Balogun into the box.

The US held back and defended well thereafter with a two-goal lead, but Canada still pressed forward and created chances with nearly two thirds possession. When they often broke through the American defensive line, they just couldn’t beat the final defender or goalkeeper Turner.

Canada got good defending and a couple of excellent saves from goalkeeper Milan Borjan, including a diving save on a Weah shot in the 43rd minute as well as a tipped save on a Richards header in the 55th minute. Centre back Scott Kennedy made a big defensive block from the goal line in the 56th minute.

One of Canada’s better chances came after a Sam Adekugbe pass inside the box to Cyle Larin in the 67th minute, but Larin’s left-footed shot was blocked before his right-footed shot sailed over the bar. An even better chance came in the 94th minute after a wonderful interchange between Alphonso Davies and Kamal Miller allowed Jonathan David to send a wonderful through ball across the six-yard box, but the ball rolled past the back post before Canada’s attackers could knock it in.

CANADA SOCCER’S MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team are Concacaf runners up after taking Silver at the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League Finals in Las Vegas. Before this year, they made their return to the men’s FIFA World Cup after finishing first in the Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Canada previously won titles when they lifted the Greg Kafaty Trophy at the 1985 Concacaf Championship and the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2000.

CAN 0 : 2 USA
2023-06-18 Las Vegas, Nevada
Allegiant Stadium
Referee / Arbitre: Said Martinez (Walter Lopez, Christian Ramirez, Selvin Brown)

Goals / Buts
USA 12′ Chris Richards (head / tête) 1-0 (a.Giovanni Reyna CK)
USA 34′ Folarin Balogun (right foot / pied droit) 2-0 (a.Giovanni Reyna)

CANADA – 18 GK Milan Borjan capt.; 22 Richie Laryea, 2 Alistair Johnston (11 Tajon Buchanan 61′), 23 Scott Kennedy (5 Steven Vitória 61′), 4 Kamal Miller, 19 Alphonso Davies, 8 Ismaël Koné, 7 Stephen Eustáquio (10 David Junior Hoilett 89′), 21 Jonathan Osorio (3 Samuel Adekugbe 61′), 20 Jonathan David, 17 Cyle Larin (9 Lucas Cavallini 75′). Coach / entraîneur John Herdman. Unused substitutes / substituts non utilisés: 1 GK Dayne St. Clair, 16 GK Tom McGill; 6 Dominick Zator, 12 Victor Loturi, 13 Atiba Hutchinson, 14 Moïse Bombito, 15 David Wotherspoon.

Gatorade Performance of the Match / Performance du match Gatorade :
Stephen Eustáquio