GOAL breaks down who stood out in both a positive and negative sense as the U.S. claimed yet another trophy
In the days leading up to the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal, Antonee Robinson said that he wantsed a U.S. men's national team triumph to become an expectation. He wants other countries to find this competition boring. The result, in Robinson's ideal world, would be decided long before a ball was kicked; it would be owned by the USMNT.
Well, Robinson's dream is now pretty damn close to reality. The USMNT continues to dominate the Nations League, having now won all three editions in this tournament's short history.
The road to their latest triumph wasn't easy. The U.S. needed a last-gasp equalizer to survive their encounter with Jamaica before swarming the Reggae Boyz in extra-time. Mexico, though, wouldn't be anywhere near as strong, as the U.S. beat El Tri all over the field to dominate in yet another Dos a Cero under the bright lights.
It was a big camp for the U.S., who continue to prepare for the upcoming Copa America. Several big stars stepped up with big goals in big moments, namely Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna, who silenced any doubters worried about their club situations.
Still, there's much to sort out ahead of this summer's Copa, with several spots still up for grabs. That's for a different day, though. For the USMNT, Sunday was about celebrating as they kept hold of their top spot in this region. It may get boring for everyone else, but the U.S. surely isn't tired of these trophy celebrations just yet.
GOAL breaks down the USMNT's winners & losers from the CONCACAF Nations League…
WINNER: Gio Reyna
The games were on late in England, but, Nuno Esprito Santo, were you watching? If the Nottingham Forest boss did indeed tune in, he'd have got a pretty good look at how to get the best out of Gio Reyna, as he put in two standout performances that belied his lack of club success this season.
In the semifinal, Reyna came off the bench to destroy Jamaica. His two assists were fantastic; both perfectly-weighted through balls that few American players have the vision to produce, and Haji Wright was on hand to finish them off.
Once he'd inspired the USMNT to reach the final, Reyna wasn't done. After a fairly quiet first half against Mexico that saw him dropping just a bit too deep to get the ball, he pounced in the second by scoring a goal of his own that put the game out of El Tri's reach.
If that was an unfit, uncertain Reyna with very few minutes at club level to speak of, what could a confident Reyna look like? It'll be up to Nuno and Forest to try and figure that out, as surely he can't be ignored now.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Folarin Balogun
It's still just not quite coming off for Folarin Balogun in a USMNT shirt. And, because of that, it feels like the race to start as striker this summer is wide open now.
Balogun wasn't bad, really, but he was quiet. It's now been about a year since his USMNT commitment, and having spent most of that year as the top dog at the No.9 position, it feels like others have caught up.
Part of that is due to the USMNT's struggles to get much out of him, while Balogun's struggles at Monaco suggest he is not a player in form right now. His biggest concern, though, should be those that are competing with him are really showing up.
Wright scored twice in the semifinal, proving that Gregg Berhalter was right to call him into camp as a late replacement amid his god recent form for Coventry City. Ricardo Pepi, meanwhile, has had some big moments at club level with PSV this season, even if he didn't really shine against Jamaica during this break. And then there's Josh Sargent, who has scored goal after goal for Norwich City and was unlucky to miss out on this camp due to injury.
Add in Brandon Vazquez and Jordan Pefok and you have a chaotic striker race. Balogun may still be in the lead, but that lead has shrunk mightily in recent months.
WINNER: Tyler Adams
He's back! Adams was 'Captain America' at the World Cup, where he led the USMNT on and off the field through their run in Qatar. Prior to this international break, though, that was the last time we'd seen Adams in a USMNT shirt. Injuries had kept him out ever since, and even as he returned to the team this week, there were justifiable questions about his fitness levels.
The midfielder, though, silenced any doubters with his performances through the two games. He put in a strong shift against Jamaica, although he was frustrated to be substituted early as his return to full fitness is managed carefully.
Knowing that there was a similar limit in place for the final against Mexico, Adams made the most of his 45 minutes on the pitch, scoring an absolutely stunning goal just before halftime to lead the U.S. to victory.
Adams is a huge presence for the U.S., someone that lifts the group during games and everything in between. The Copa America is looming and Adams is building fitness; that's great news for the USMNT.
LOSER: Joe Scally
The USMNT knows what to expect from Sergino Dest: high-flying, highlight-reel attacking play. Against many teams, Dest is a legitimate weapon, another dynamic body leaping into the attack to overload opponents.
When playing higher-level opponents, though, Dest can be a bit of a liability. That's why many have called for Joe Scally to be brought in against more dangerous teams to provide a bit more defensive stability.
Scally, though, didn't provide much of that stability against Jamaica, doing little to really raise his stock in the fullback race. He was hooked after 45 minutes and then wasn't used in the win over Mexico in the final.
Scally was partially at fault for Jamaica's goal as he failed to track Greg Leigh's backpost run, although more of the blame should fall on Antonee Robinson on the other side for losing the ball to begin with. Scally, though, had a few nervy moments thereafter, too, leading to his halftime substitution.
It wasn't a good window for Scally, who still is very much stuck as backup with little time left to fix it ahead of the Copa America.