Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams on Sunday scored as the US beat Mexico 2-0 to win the CONCACAF Nations League final, giving the Americans all three titles in the event’s history.
Adams scored a long-distance screamer in the 45th minute and Reyna fired home a loose ball from the edge of the box in the 63rd for the US, who also won Nations League crowns in 2021 and last year.
“It never gets old winning titles for your country. I’ll never take any of them for granted,” Reyna said. “The group of guys and the energy we have, I always love coming to camp. I’m at a loss for words right now.”
Photo: AFP
However, the final was marred when play was suspended late in the game for the second consecutive year because of homophobic chants by pro-Mexican fans.
Canadian referee Drew Fischer stopped play in the 88th minute. Play resumed after a four-and-a-half-minute wait, but Fischer halted it again six minutes into stoppage-time. Play restarted one-and-a-half minutes later and the match was played until conclusion in the ninth minute of added time.
When the final whistle finally came, the Americans had captured the crown in front of 59,471 fans in Arlington, Texas, on the home field of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
“Security staff in the stadium identified and ejected a significant number of fans, and the referee and match officials activated the FIFA protocol. ... It is extremely disappointing that this matter continues to be an issue at some matches,” CONCACAF said in a statement.
US coach Gregg Berhalter and players were hit by debris while celebrating Reyna’s goal.
“That was unfortunate because we want a really competitive game, we want a great atmosphere, but we don’t want to get things thrown at us,” Berhalter said. “It’s unsafe and someone can get hurt.”
Additional reporting by AP
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