Tyler Adams was all smiles as he stood on the field holding his 2-month-old son, Jax.
The 25-year-old midfielder had just scored the goal of his life on Sunday night, leading the United States to a 2-0 victory over Mexico and clinching their third consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title.
“People have a lot of question marks about this, about that,” Adams said. “But if you look at what we do when we have a chance to work together each week, we continue to grow.”
Adams, in his first start for club and country in more than a year, scored from about 35 yards, receiving a pass from Weston McKennie in the 45th minute, taking a touch and curling a shot that just went off his right hand. . of diving goalie Guillermo Ochoa.
Reyna, who has started just one league game this season for Borussia Dortmund and Nottingham Forest, scored his eighth international goal in the 63rd minute.
Christian Pulisic’s cross was blocked by defender Johan Vazquez.
The ball deflected off American forward Haji Wright, and Vazquez attempted to head it clear. Reyna bounced the ball and hit Ochoa at the near post from 16 yards out.
Earlier this week, U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter used the example of Michael Jordan and the 1991-93 Chicago Bulls to motivate his players to win their third straight championship.
“It’s the scene where Jordan skates holding the trophy and holding up three fingers,” Berhalter said. “We Photoshopped the Nations League trophy to look like Michael Jordan.”
After exhibitions against Colombia and Brazil in June, the United States will play Bolivia, Panama and Uruguay in the Copa America group stage. Six teams from North, Central America and the Caribbean will be invited to the group stage.
“It’s good for building momentum,” Reyna said. “We’ve been with our core group for a while now and I think we know what it takes to win big games and tournaments and hopefully we can carry that into the Copa America and do well. I think you can do it.”
Reyna was named top player and Matt Turner was named best goalkeeper.
Berhalter nearly sent Reina home from the 2022 World Cup for not training hard, which sparked a feud between Reina and the Berhalter family, and the U.S. Soccer Federation appointed an interim coach for much of last year. is what happened. Berhalter returned in September after recovering from injury, and Reyna returned a month later.
“When I took over the team again, I said I needed time,” Berhalter said. “And that was something we both acknowledged. And the more we worked together, the more he felt that his intentions were true and that everyone on the staff had his best interests in mind.” I think we started to believe and we started to gain trust.”
Since losing in September 2019, the United States has extended its undefeated record against Mexico to seven games, including five wins.
“They were much more focused than we were. They put pressure on us,” Mexico coach Jaime Lozano said.
The game was stopped twice by Canadian referee Drew Fisher due to homophone chants among the 59,471 pro-Mexican crowd at AT&T Stadium.
He stopped play in the 88th minute, waited four and a half minutes before restarting, and stopped play again six minutes into stoppage time. Play resumed a minute and a half later.
Last year’s Nations League semifinal in Las Vegas ended about four minutes early due to chants from Mexican fans who have long disparaged the opposing team’s goaltender.
Adams, who hasn’t played for the U.S. national team since the 2022 World Cup after suffering a right hamstring injury that required surgery twice, played in the 63rd minute on Thursday but was limited to 100 minutes due to minutes restrictions. He was sent off.
He only played 21 minutes for the club from 11 March 2023 until 13 March this year, when he returned from injury playing 20 minutes in the English Premier League game between Bournemouth and Luton.
With time still remaining, Adams was replaced by Johnny Cardoso at the start of the second half.
“Typical Tyler, we had the altercation in the locker room, but he wants to play more. People are asking why he can’t play more,” Berhalter said. “I wanted him to play in the game, but I did it for safety reasons. He still has a lot of games to play, so we want to make sure he’s healthy.” We want to make sure we come back.”
Manager Berhalter had agreed a time limit with Bournemouth.
Adams said his playing time this weekend will likely be limited to 60 minutes.
“Obviously it was disappointing coming out at halftime, especially after scoring a goal and helping the team,” Adams said. “Well, I understand that we have to be smart about our long-term plans.”
Fischer initially awarded a penalty to Anthony Robinson for his challenge on Santiago Jimenez, but after a video review by Nicaragua’s Tatiana Guzmán, Fischer canceled the foul and gave the forward a yellow card for simulation in the 74th minute. Ta.
Both teams have their sights set on the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“2026 will be here before we know it,” Berhalter said.
Note: In the third-place match, Jamaica defeated Panama 1-0 on a 41st-minute goal from Dexter Lembikisa.
