In the final of the Concacaf Nations League (CNL) on Sunday, the United States defeated Canada with a score of 2-0. The USMNT’s Gio Reyna played a crucial role in the victory, despite being on the field for only 45 minutes. Reyna provided assists for both goals, one with a corner headed home by Chris Richards and the other with a deft through ball that Folarin Balogun drilled past Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan. Although Reyna had to leave the game due to a calf injury at halftime, he put in an outstanding performance in the center of the U.S. midfield.
U.S. interim manager B.J. Callaghan praised Reyna’s performance, emphasizing his qualities on the field, ball security, and ability to take on two or three players and connect passes. Callaghan also highlighted Reyna’s off-the-ball work on the defensive side, which he has been working on recently.
Reyna has shifted from a winger to a more central role, adding dynamism to the U.S. attack. U.S. captain Christian Pulisic, who won the CNL Best Player Award, said he likes Reyna in the central position, as he is dangerous and causes a lot of problems for the opposition.
Despite facing chaos and adversity, the U.S. team triumphed in the CNL. Callaghan, who was named interim manager only last month after the previous interim manager left for a managerial post with Qatari side Al-Markhiya, led two superb U.S. performances against Mexico and Canada.
Callaghan will now have the opportunity to further hone his managerial skills in the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup, which starts on June 24. He expressed his pride in the team’s collective effort and commitment, saying that there is something special happening with this team.
Canada manager John Herdman attributed the difference between the two teams’ performance to preparation, especially on set pieces, where the U.S. was a threat throughout the game. Herdman complained about the limited number of training days he had with his team and called out the Canada Soccer Association for not doing more to help his side.
Herdman urged Canada to get serious about winning a World Cup, saying that they brought a World Cup to the country but are not serious about winning it. He emphasized that the margins were so tight in the game that Canada needs to get real and quick.
The United States’ victory in the CNL was a result of excellent teamwork and Reyna’s outstanding performance. Reyna’s shift to a more central role has added dynamism to the U.S. attack, making them a more dangerous team. The upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup will provide an opportunity for Callaghan to further hone his managerial skills and for the U.S. team to continue their winning streak.
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