USMNT 1-2 Canada: No comeback for sloppy, shorthanded Yanks

Canada’s men won on U.S. soil for just the second time ever as Luca de la Torre’s second-half goal was not enough for interim boss Mikey Varas and a shorthanded USMNT in Kansas City.

Goals from Jacob Shaffelburg and Jonathan David came off two of a series of miserable giveaways as the Yanks were very sloppy out of the back and even apathetic at times in the first game since the end of Gregg Berhalter’s second spell in charge of the team.

[ MORE: USMNT player ratings out of 10 from loss to Canada ]

The win, however gift-wrapped, was another excellent benchmark for Canada boss Jesse Marsch, who this summer led the Canucks to the Copa America semifinal round after the USMNT failed to emerge from the group stage.

The USMNT were without injured Tyler Adams, Timothy Weah and Sergino Dest, while Weston McKennie and Antonee Robinson were absent, all before Giovanni Reyna was injured in training this week.

As the world awaits an official announcement to (reportedly) name Mauricio Pochettino the new head coach of the USMNT, the Yanks have to lick their wounds and find a better performance come Sept. 10 in Cincinnati against New Zealand.

Pochettino, or someone, needed soon to fix USMNT’s mindset

When people said the Copa America failure was more down to the players than Berhalter, they weren’t wrong. That wasn’t enough to save his job for any number of reasons, but the lack of get-going from the get-go of this match — yes, even with several big absences — underscored the mentality problems.

It’s never perfect to compare teams across a federation, but just look to Emma Hayes as to what new direction from a respected voice can do for a locker room. The USWNT was quickly sorted as bold choices and proper motivation were joined by a clear tactical direction to put the women back on the podium.

This is nothing against interim boss Mikey Varas, who couldn’t deliver a dramatic or fresh voice in the team room considering he was Berhalter’s assistant and the team doesn’t live in a box — they know a new boss is coming soon. Yet the fact that the team wasn’t burning to make an impact from the opening kickoff against an American coaching their northern neighbor, a team that went further than them at Copa America and finished on top of CONCACAF in World Cup qualifying? Not great.

What’s next?

The USMNT meet New Zealand after 7pm ET Tuesday in Cincinnati.

USMNT vs Canada live updates — By Nick Mendola

USMNT vs Canada final score: 1-2

Shaffelburg 17', David 58'; De la Torre 66'

Chris Richards reaction: USMNT lacked mentality

“We learned in Copa that mentality is the No. 1 thing,” Richards said on TBS after the game. “You can control that. If you’re on the pitch sometimes the ball might not go your way but the non-negotiable is mentality and we missed that in the first half.”

“It’s frustrating because at the end of the day you can only control what you do,” he added later. “You can try to push people. If they don’t do it, it’s up to them. But as a defender a lot of the time it comes back on you. Giving up goals, you look at the scoreboard and think the defense didn’t do so well but all around the park our mentality just wasn’t quite there.”

Pepi denied equalizer

Wright leads a rush and sends Pepi into the box. Are we in for another sub-to-sub goal to complete a comeback?

Pepi makes two pretty touches and lashes a shot that a sliding Crepeau saves from very close range. So close.

Attacking subs by Varas

Haji Wright replaces Yunus Musah in a very attacking move by Mikey Varas. Yanks trail 2-1 in the 71st minute.

Later, Ricardo Pepi enters for Folarin Balogun.

One back through Luca de la Torre! USMNT 1-2 Canada (66th minute)

Christian Pulisic drives the end line and puts the ball on a plate for anyone charging the back post. Canada misses a clearance with an air kick.

Joe Scally settles the ball on the back corner of the 18 and spots Aidan Morris atop the 18. Morris either whiffs on a shot or pulls off a wicked fake, then bringing the ball into the heart of the box with a spin move.

He’s dropped but a possibly offside Luca de la Torre takes the rebound and belts it past Crepeau. The goal will stand in this VAR-free friendly.

2-1.

Double midfield switch for USMNT

Luca de la Torre and Aidan Morris come into the fold for Johnny Cardoso and Malik Tillman, who had very different days.

Tillman impressed while Cardoso made a poor turnover on the first Canada goal and that was not his only error.

About a half-hour to turnaround a 2-0 deficit for a sleepy USMNT.

Jonathan David doubles Canada’s lead — USMNT 0-2 Canada (58th minute)

Another big turnover by Tim Ream, who has looked a shell of himself.

It’s David who reads the play and slides in Larin, who in turn is slide-tackled by Lund.

But the ball falls for David who hammers it home for 2-0. Blech.

Crepeau again, and a wasted rebound

Left back Kristoffer Lund leads a rampaging run down the left flank, bodying a would-be tackler and slipping Balogun into the box.

Balogun smashes a shot that Crepeau parries back into traffic. A gassed Lund airmails it high and wide.

Still 1-0 Canada in the 52nd minute but a good start for the Yanks.

No changes at the break, Crepeau collects shot off corner

The Yanks send a corner kick into the mixer that churns free to Tillman, moving away from goal.

The PSV man backheels to Balogun, but the Monaco forward is in a tough and rushed spot and his low shot is easily saved by a stooping Crepeau.

Mikey Varas not impressed with his team. Changes ahead?

Interim boss Mikey Varas may have some good words but for the room, but his halftime comments on TBS basically sound like someone describing the stale days of Gregg Berhalter’s directionless final third.

“We’re a little bit too static, that’s clear,” Varas said. “We’re not playing behind. We have the ball but we’re not really going anywhere.”

Cardoso could be pulled for Luca de la Torre or Aidan Morris, and Aaronson has been energetic but sloppy. Tillman, Schulte, and Pulisic were the Yanks’ best from a dull half.

Halftime — USMNT 0-1 Canada

The Yanks shaded possession 55-45 but that’s about it for good stats.

One shot attempt to 11 for Canada, who have forced a few saves out of Patrick Schulte.

The Yanks are missing Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Giovanni Reyna, Sergino Dest, and Timothy Weah, but they shouldn’t be getting cooked.

Apathetic last 25-30 minutes from a group of XI who should have more of an interest in staking their claim to their place. Ugh.

Another save as U.S. defending is lax

Canada in the U.S. third just passing the ball around, conveniently looking for an opening.

Larin has the better of Ream off an Alphonso Davies cross and jabs the ball toward goal, but Schulte does enough to keep it 1-0.

Schulte save on Larin!

Tim Ream with a bad pass and Cyle Larin is played toward goal. Chris Richards challenges Larin, putting the forward off.

But Larin does so well to hit a hard shot on target that Schulte pushes out for a corner. A good save.

Two corners ensue for Canada and the Yanks keep the deficit at one in the 34th minute.

Christian Pulisic just misses!

Tillman is having a heck of a half, as the PSV Eindhoven man turns over Canada just inside their half and gets the ball from Pulisic.

Tillman sends a pretty diagonal ball over the top to the left as Pulisic zips toward the right side of the box. Balogun volleys a pass across goal but it’s strong and Pulisic has to chest it down.

That takes him to an acute angle. His sideways chip spins over Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau and just misses the far post.

Celtic’s Alistair Johnston subs off with injury, replaced by Richie Laryea at right back. Still 1-0 Canada.

Johnny Cardoso gaffe leads to Canadian opener — USMNT 0-1 Canada (17th minute)

Oof, that is poor.

Johnny Cardoso reads a Tim Ream pass all wrong and one-touches a pass from his own end directly to Canada.

The Canadians pass from right to left until the best shot is on and Shaffelburg doesn’t have to do much to beat Schulte.

1-0.

USMNT break through Malik Tillman

A Canadian corner kick bumbles around outside the penalty era, and Malik Tillman feels very brave as he cuts back Mathieu Choiniere out of his shorts and drives up field.

Leading a long dribble up field, Tillman plays a long ball to spring Balogun that seemed possibly offside but no flag is raised and Canada deals with the threat.

Still 0-0 after 15 minutes.

Canada denied early

Christian Pulisic found Folarin Balogun with a nice ball toward the left corner, but Canada does well to defend the chance.

The Canucks go other way and a sensational diagonal pass found Jonathan David in the left side of the U.S. box, a laced shot parried out for a corner by surprise starter Patrick Schulte.

0-0, 4'.

USMNT vs Canada team news

Not many surprises here, though Patrick Schulte starting over Matt Turner — aching for minutes after his transfer from Nottingham Forest to Crystal Palace on loan — certainly qualifies as one. Perhaps Turner is certain to play the second game, and Schulte’s inclusion has to be justified as he is away from Columbus on a club match day. Otherwise, as detailed here, the lineup is predictable.

Canada’s team looks good, although there are still questions at the back and in midfield despite the growing reputations of Moise Bombito (Nice via MLS) and Stephen Eustaquio (Porto). Mathieu Choiniere and Ali Ahmed have a total of 12 caps between them and remain an unknown. Jonathan David enters the game one goal off the nation’s all-time men’s goal-scoring lead but even a brace is only a temporary achievement — the leader, with 29 goals in a Canada shirt, is fellow starter Cyle Larin.

USMNT lineup

Schulte, Lund, Richards, Ream, Scally, Cardoso, Musah, Tillman, Pulisic, Aaronson, Balogun

Canada lineup

Crepeau, Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Davies, Choiniere, Eustaquio, Shaffelburg, Ahmed, David, Larin.

How to watch USMNT vs Canada live, stream link and start time

Kickoff time: 4 pm ET Saturday (Sept. 7)
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park - Kansas City, Kansas
How to watch: TBS, Telemundo, Universo, Max, Peacock

USMNT vs Canada prediction

Canada was certainly the better side this summer as they made it to (and lost) the 3rd-place game at Copa America. Jesse Marsch put the pieces in place all too quickly and took the Canucks up a notch (or two). Their confidence is sky high right now, but where it’s the USMNT’s? Perhaps we’ll find out on Saturday. USMNT 1-1 Canada.