Canada 2-1 USA (Sep 7, 2024) Game Analysis
Expertly compiled recap and analysis of the Canada against. United States International Friendly game that took place on the 7th of September, 2024, on ESPN.
The United States men’s national team suffered its first home loss to Canada in 67 years, as it continued its struggles from this summer’s Copa América in Saturday’s friendly in Kansas City, Kansas.
In the first match following the exit from the Copa America at the group stage and the subsequent demotion by Gregg Berhalter as head coach The U.S. was well beaten by its neighbours further north.
The victory was Canada’s second win over USMNT. It was Canada’s second win over USMNT in the U.S. soil in 27 games, and the first after 1957 St. Louis.
Although Mauricio Pochettino is likely to be announced soon as Berhalter’s top-rated replacement Berhalter’s U.S. was under the interim leadership by the former coach Mikey Varas. Canada was meanwhile continuing to show its growth as a former U.S. assistant coach, and once a potential candidate to be U.S. head coach, Jesse Marsch.
Canada was able to reach the semifinals of the first Copa at the end of July was especially dominant during the first quarter. Jacob Shaffelburg scored the first goal at the end of 17 minutes, and Canada could have been more than a goal ahead of its lone opponents at half-time.
A much-needed second goal came in to Canada with the help of forward Jonathan David just after the hour mark. While the Americans were able to improve after the break in the second half, and Luca de la Torre‘s first international goal cut their deficit by 66th minute it wasn’t enough to prevent the USMNT falling to the third consecutive loss.
The U.S. will next face New Zealand in Cincinnati on Tuesday.
The 23-game home undefeated streak against Canada was the longest streak against a opponent. However, there was no evidence of this record when Canada beat a static U.S. 11-1 in the first half.
Columbus Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte made his second appearance in the international arena and was replaced by Matt Turner, who hasn’t played in a club game since the 2nd of April. Tim Ream started following his move to Charlotte from Fulham in the transfer of Fulham Charlotte.
None of the MLS athletes been in the previous six games and only eight of the 198 starting positions were filled by MLS players during the 18 games in which the entire pool of players has been in place until when the 2022 World Cup.
Canada began after Schulte kept the ball following an off-side pass and threw the ball across to Ream who’s cross in the air towards Johnny Cardoso bounced away from the midfielder, and was taken and redirected to Stephen Eustaquio. He passed the ball to David who passed the ball first time to Shaffelburg. He took a touch, and moved the ball over Schulte’s left hand to score an eighth goal from his 17 international appearances.
Canada scored their first goal against Americans on America in U.S. for the first time in 19 games since 1985.
David scored following Ream’s free kick and passing on Cyle Larin. Kristoffer Lund‘s attack brought the ball into David who was able to beat Schulte at the near post from seven yards. David’s 29 goals were tied with Larin to set the Canadian record for scoring all time.
There were six U.S. players were held over after their Copa America loss to Uruguay: Ream, fellow defenders Chris Richards and Joe Scally midfielder Yunus Musah, and forwards Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic.
Information taken from The Associated Press and ESPN Stats & Information helped for this story.