Christian Pulisic on Thursday scored twice as the US beat Mexico 3-0 to set up a CONCACAF Nations League final showdown with Canada after a stormy battle that saw both sides finish with nine men.
Chelsea winger Pulisic opened the scoring in the 37th minute and then drove in a second a minute after halftime, slotting home a low cross from Tim Weah, who had been sent clear down the right by a fine long pass from Weston McKennie.
The game at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium turned ugly in the 69th minute when Cesar Montes was shown a red card for an ugly wild kick at US debutant Folarin Balogun and McKennie was also dismissed for his role in the fracas that followed.
Photo: AP
Substitute Riccardo Pepi made sure of the win with the US’ third goal in the 78th minute after an offside flag was overruled after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
Two more red cards followed in the 85th minute when Mexico’s Gerardo Arteaga and the US’ Sergino Dest were sent off after another mass brawl.
The match was stopped in the final minutes due to a homophobic chanting by Mexico supporters, triggering the stadium warnings of a potential suspension of the game.
There were also objects and drinks thrown from the stands on to the pitch and the referee blew for time with about half of the announced 12 minutes off stoppage-time still to play.
Pulisic expressed satisfaction with the result, but frustration that the game was allowed to spiral out of control.
“It’s a great scoreline for us, it’s a big win and we’re into the finals, but the game didn’t need to turn into all this madness that it did,” Pulisic said. “They really need to control the game much more. It’s sad and now we’re missing two good players just because everyone’s losing their heads. I’m a little bit upset, but at the end of the day we’re in the finals.”
US goalkeeper Matt Turner, who had to deal with the loud shouts of the homophobic slur when kicking the ball in the latter stages of the match, said the behavior was unacceptable.
“It goes against everything that we stand for on our side. We’ve been very open and vocal about the strength of our team being our diversity, strength of our nation being its diversity. So to use something so divisive during a game, a spirited game, and maybe the play sort of set off the flares in the stands, but it has no place in the game,” Turner said.
Earlier, Canada booked their place in tomorrow’s final with Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies on target in a confident 2-0 win over Panama.
Canada, looking to progress after their first FIFA World Cup finals appearance since 1986, were on the front foot from the outset, finding space frequently behind the Panama fullbacks.
David, who plays in France’s Ligue 1 for Lille OSC, opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a cool, first-time finish past the advancing Orlando Mosquera after being slipped in by Kamal Miller.
Panama responded with a fierce drive from Ismael Diaz and then a Fidel Escobar free-kick, both of which tested Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan.
Canada coach John Herdman brought on Bayern Munich winger Davies in the 62nd minute and it took just seven minutes for the winger to make his mark.
David found him in the inside-left channel and Davies burst into the penalty area before blasting an unstoppable drive high into the roof of the net.
Panama’s woes were added to in the final minutes when Eric Davis was sent off for violent conduct after a VAR review showed he had struck Richie Laryea on the back of the head.
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