Adams screamer helps US beat Mexico but game halted due to homophobic chants
Tyler Adams scored with a brilliant long-range strike in his first start for club or country in more than a year, Gio Reyna added a goal in the second half and the United States defeated Mexico 2-0 on Sunday night for their third consecutive Concacaf Nations Title of the competition.
Adams put the U.S. ahead in the 45th minute when he received a pass from Weston McKennie, took a touch and curled a shot that escaped the right hand of diving goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
Reyna added a goal in the 63rd minute to follow up his pair of extra-time goals in Thursday’s semi-final win over Jamaica.
The United States has extended its unbeaten run against Mexico to seven games since its defeat in September 2019. That run includes five wins.
The match was stopped twice by Canadian referee Drew Fischer due to homophonic chants among the predominantly pro-Mexican crowd of 59,471 at AT&T Stadium. Last year’s Nations League semi-final in Las Vegas ended about four minutes early due to chants from Mexican fans, who for years insulted opposing goalkeepers.
Last year’s Concacaf semi-final was stopped in stoppage time by Salvadoran referee Iván Barton with the US leading 3-0 due to similar chants. Concacaf released a statement the next day that it “strongly condemns the discriminatory chanting of some fans,” which it said “has no place in our sport.” The regional governing body did not appear to announce any disciplinary action.
The Mexican Football Federation challenged financial sanctions last month a total of 100,000 Swiss francs ($114,000) imposed by FIFA over incidents during two matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in which fans used anti-gay slurs. FIFA has repeatedly held the Mexican federation responsible for homophobic chants, issuing fines and closing stadiums for matches following incidents in qualifying matches for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and for Olympic qualifying.
Troubled by a right hamstring injury that required surgery twice, Adams had not played for the US since the 2022 World Cup before starting in the 63rd minute of Thursday’s match.
He was limited to one 21-minute club appearance between March 11, 2023 and last March 13, when he returned from injury with a 20-minute stretch for Bournemouth against Luton in the Premier League.
Still on a minutes limit, Adams was replaced by Johnny Cardoso at the start of the second half. Adams also scored in a friendly against Mexico in September 2018.
Reyna, limited to one league start for Borussia Dortmund and Nottingham Forest this season, scored his eighth international goal. Christian Pulisic’s cross was blocked by defender Johan Vásquez. The ball bounced back to Vásquez via Haji Wright, who headed a clearance attempt. Reyna bounced the ball and beat Ochoa from 16 yards out.
Fischer initially awarded a penalty for a challenge from Antonee Robinson on Santiago Giménez, but after a video review Fischer blew off the foul and gave the attacker a yellow card for simulation.
Ochoa, Mexico’s 38-year-old captain, was making his 150th international appearance. Seams were visible in the temporary grass strips installed on the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys field.
U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter made five changes from Thursday’s starting lineup in the 3-1 extra-time win against Jamaica, adding right back Sergiño Dest, center back Tim Ream, midfielders Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna and forward Haji Wright add. They replaced Joe Scally, Miles Robinson, Yunus Musah, Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun.
Jamaica defeated Panama 1–0 in the third place match after Dexter Lembikisa’s goal in the 41st minute.