Dallas: Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams scored as the United States beat Mexico 2-0 in the CONCACAF Nations League final on Sunday, giving the Americans all three titles in the event’s history.
Adams scored with a long-range screamer in the 45th minute and Reyna fired the ball home from the edge of the box in the 63rd minute for the USA, who also won the Nations League crowns in 2021 and 2023.
“He will never get the old winning titles for your country. I will never take any of them for granted,” said Reyna.
“The group of guys and the energy we have, I always love coming to camp. I’m at a loss for words right now.”
Reyna hoped the “Three-peat” would provide inspiration for the Copa America competition on home soil this summer against South America’s best teams.
“It’s big for momentum,” he said. “Now we’ve been together with our core group. We know what it means to win big games.
“We hope to keep the momentum going in the Copa America and maybe lift the trophy there.”
The Mexicans appeared to have a lifeline for the match in the 73rd minute when a penalty was awarded after American defender Antonee Robinson fouled Santiago Gimenez in the penalty area.
But video review overturned the decision and Gimenez was instead shown a yellow card for simulation, dulling the excitement for the Mexican battle.
The game was abandoned in the 86th minute and twice more in stoppage time after Mexican fans shouted discriminatory language, a homophobic slur, when the opposition kicked the ball.
When the final whistle finally blew, the Americans claimed the crown in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
“Our goal this whole tournament was to advance and then get a chance to play in the finals and win the finals, and we accomplished that,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said.
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The Americans won both previous CONCACAF Nations League crowns, defeating Mexico 3-2 in overtime in the opening match of the 2021 championship and Canada 2-0 in last year’s final after eliminating Mexico 3-0 in last year’s semifinals.
Mexico still leads the all-time rivalry 37-24 with 17 ties, but the U.S. men stretched their current unbeaten streak against Mexico in all competitions to seven games with five wins and two ties.
“Whenever you don’t achieve something, you have to learn from it,” Mexico manager Jaime Lozano said. “They were better in almost everything, quality, pressure, scoring opportunities. They pressed us well and we couldn’t find solutions.
“They are deserved winners and we need to learn as much as we can from this experience and turn it around quickly.”
The United States took the lead in the 45th minute when an unguarded Adams took a pass from Wes McKennie and fired a right-footed shot from 30 yards, giving no chance to diving Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
“I’m excited to be back with this group,” said Adams, who has been plagued by injuries since the World Cup, “I always get up for the big games.”
His only previous international goal also came against Mexico in a friendly in 2018.
Mexico frustrated the Americans for much of the first half, shutting down passing lanes with a pressing physical performance to shut down the U.S. attack.
U.S. captain Christian Pulisic had just 15 touches in the first half, the outstanding forward largely thwarted by Mexico’s aggressive defensive effort.
Adams was taken off at half-time, a precaution after two hamstring operations and missing a year at club level, having only seen brief action for AFC Bournemouth.
“He’s so important to the team,” Reyna said. “He was on a minute limit, otherwise I would have liked to see more from him.
Reyna’s goal came after Pulisic played the ball from the backline into traffic in the heart of the area. Wright deflected a bouncing ball to Reyna, whose right-footed shot went into the net.
Dexter Lembikisa’s 42nd-minute goal gave Jamaica a 1-0 win over Panama in the third-place match.
