The Kids Are Alright
Last night, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) defeated Mexico in the first ever CONCACAF Nations League final 3-2, after over 120 LONG minutes. Just to give all those reading a sense of just how much happened over the course of this game, here’s a list of the highlights:
Kickoff
Goal from Jesus Corona off USA giveaway (Mexico 1-0).
Goal from Gio Reyna off of corner (Tied 1-1).
Ethan Horvath subs in for Zack Steffen in net, after a non-contact injury.
Gregg Berhalter tracks down a Mexican player on the sideline.
Diego Lianez subs in for Mexico.
Lianez scores for Mexico (Mexico 2-1).
Weston McKennie scored for USA off a corner (Tied 2-2).
There’s a near fist fight between the two teams.
The game was paused during stoppage time due to a homophobic chant.
A fan ran behind and jumped the wall behind the CBS crew (shoutout Chuck D!).
Start of extratime.
The head referee reviews a possible foul and penalty inside the box on Christian Pulisic.
Tata Martino is shown a red card while trying to huddle with the ref while he was reviewing the play.
VAR awards USA a penalty.
Mexico players try to rattle Pulisic and wear down the pitch around the penalty spot.
Christian Pulisic scores a penalty for USA (USA 3-2).
Reyna gets injured during the goal celebration (as a subbed-out player) by fans throwing bottles onto the field
VAR awards Mexico a penalty due to a slight handball inside the box.
Kellyn Acosta strategically wastes time.
Ethan Horvath (the backup keeper) stops the penalty, all but clinching the win.
There’s a pitch invader.
Pulisic is taken down along the sideline late in the second period of extra time.
Mexico fans throw food and drinks at U.S. players.
Full time - USA are champions.
As you can see, a lot happened - there’s likely some details I’ve missed. If you’re reading this and expecting a detailed breakdown of the game, I am sorry - this article is less a game summary and more a breakdown of what this moment means for the USMNT. I was on Twitter Spaces yesterday afternoon before the game and said, “a good performance means more than a trophy tonight,” which is something I believed the entire time. The US had a poor initial 45 minutes - there was no intensity, no passion, poor passing and poor plays. The US should have been down 2-0 but, with some luck and a few positive plays, The US leveled the match 1-1.
The second half saw some key performances from Weston McKennie, Kellyn Acosta, Timothy Weah, and, of course, Ethan Horvath. For once, the team was playing like a team. There were distinct patterns of play, and the US came back at Mexico again and again to secure the win. This team came together multiple times, lifted their teammates up, fought for each other and celebrated together. The time that this team has spent together off the field truly shined in the second half and in extra time.
Before I get further into this, I want to unequivocally admit that this could be an overreaction, but I truly believe this is a turning point for this USMNT group. This young squad won a trophy for the USMNT and, though it may be an irrelevant trophy, winning the competitions laid out in front of you is important. This group won their initial group, which included a tough Canadian side, then went on to beat Honduras after going an EXTENDED period without a competitive game together. Nonetheless, against all odds, the USMNT won a thriller against Mexico. These are the moments that help teams and cultures grow. This may sound spiritual, but the Nations League trophy is not just the culmination of 6 games - it is the physical manifestation of the adversity that this USMNT team has overcome.
As USMNT fans, we often find things to complain about: it’s become a sort of inevitability at this point. However, before we do, can we all take a second to step back, acknowledge and even celebrate this win? Can we appreciate that starters from the “Big 5” European leagues and starters from the US domestic league came together to put together a gritty, passionate performance? Can we acknowledge that, when starting players were either out of form or out with an injury, we saw other players step up? Can we admire the fact that, even when a player like Christian Pulisic isn’t playing his best, we can still rely on him to take a penalty, in front of a mostly hostile crowd and a roughed-up spot, and seal a victory? That is what this group has done - this is what this team has shown its fans. Even though it wasn’t pretty, they’ve won.
I stayed up until 1AM EST last night watching this game - my heart was racing, I was sweating, and I continued to tell myself that we were going to lose to ease the pain. I am so glad that I experienced all of that, because it made watching Christian Pulisic carry that trophy over to the team that much sweeter. We, as long-suffering USMNT fans, need this right now. The USMNT itself needs the example shown on June 6th, 2021, to carry over to the Gold Cup. If this team can win a Nations League title and put in a good showing (read: win) at the Gold Cup, the USMNT will be ready for World Cup qualifying and will redeem itself after five excruciating years.
