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So what can be drawn from two games inside a three-day span at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
One CONCACAF Nation (Mexico) appears to be reasserting itself as the region’s top team, while another nation (Panama) looks like they could be a darkhorse as well as that one team that no one in any region let alone CONCACAF wants to face. Meanwhile, another nation (Canada) is continuing its rise while another (United States) may need to take a hard look in the mirror.
Canada 2, United States 1
The growth continues for the Canada men’s soccer team.
Almost a year removed from its run to the semifinals of Copa America, and with the World Cup a year out, Canada seems to be on an upward trajectory while the United States looks like it has some serious questions answered. Sunday’s third place match of the CONCACAF Nations league seemed to reinforce these respective theories, as Canada overcame its coach being sent off for arguing a no-call inside the penalty area and defeated the United States 2-1.
Tied at a goal apiece well into the second half, controversy ensued in the 54th minute. It started when Alistair Johnson cleared a ball out of the penalty area, and even better for Canada, David managed to outrace Max Arfsten to the ball freeing David for a one-on-one with Turner, even as Arfsten trailed closely behind. Sensing this, David attempted to deke Arfsten, the move was initially successful, as Arfsten went to the ground, but David slipped himself, and the US eventually cleared out the danger. Nevertheless, Canada pleaded for the penalty, even as replays not only appeared to show no contact between David and Arfsten, but also no contact between Arfsten’s hand and the ball. Marsch was so incensed by the no call his protest was more than enough to warrant a straight red card from referee Katia Itzel García.
Canada however used that moment as a rallying cry, and pulled back ahead in the 59th minute. Ahmed found David inside the penalty area, David took a quick touch, then fired a left-footed shot that beat Turner far post to the upper corner to put Canada ahead.
Canada jumped ahead in the 27th minute. Ali Ahmed took a ball into the penalty area, then played a ball towards the penalty spot. David came in and one-timed a shot, the ball took a deflection, but found the foot of Oluwaseyi, who also kept himself onside and thus slotted the left-footed shot past keeper Matt Turner far post to give Canada the early lead.
The lead wouldn’t last however, as the US had a response in the 35th minute. Timothy Weah dribbled down the left side, played Diego Luna into the penalty area, Luna chose to play a ball to Agyemang, and the forward for Charlotte FC fired a shot that beat keeper Dayne St. Clair to level the match.
Mexico 2, Panama 1
Is El Tri back? it certainly seems that way.
Mexico finally earned the right to call itself champions of the CONCACAF Nations League, though Panama certainly made them earn it. Raul Jimenez’s brace, including the winner from the penalty spot carried Mexico to the 2-1 win in the championship game.
Eighteen months after winning the Gold Cup against the same exact opponent on the exact same stadium, Mexico came in looking for a repeat performance, and Jimenez got going for Mexico just eight minutes in. Roberto Alvarado sent a left-footed cross into the penalty area and Jimenez’s header beat a scrambling keeper Oscar Mosquera far post to stake El Tri to the lead.
Panama however got a break just before halftime, as a shot attempt inside the penalty area by Cecilio Waterman was handled by Mexico’s Johan Vasquez, which was confirmed by VAR, awarding Panama a penalty at a critical moment in the first half. Adalberto Carrasquilla stepped up to the spot for Los Canaleros and buried the penalty right into the back net to pull Panama level just before the half.
Both teams battled to a standstill in the second half, and extra time seemed likely, but Mexico was not the beneficiary of a hand ball call inside the 18-yard box. It happened just as the match was heading into a six-minute stoppage time, as Luis Chavez sent a free kick into the six, Jose Corboda sent the ball over the end line, but did so with his right hand, making it a very easy decision for referee Mario Escobar to award Mexico the penalty. Jimenez stepped up, strategically stuttered and ended up sending the penalty to his right, while Mosquera guessed wrong.
