The USMNT completes a sweep of its friendly slate with a 1-0 win over Canada
It wasn’t as pretty a performance as the previous games, but that was no surprise. Instead, there was applause for the squad’s work ethic, and a well-taken goal by Justin Ellis in the first half.
The U.S. men’s soccer team capped off its first gathering since the World Cup with a fourth straight win, topping Canada 1-0 on Tuesday in St. Paul, Minn.
It wasn’t as pretty a performance as the previous three, but no one expected it to be at the end of the first ever four-game autumn FIFA window. Instead, there was applause for the squad’s work ethic, and a goal by Justin Ellis in the first half.
“Congratulate the players, because one more time, the commitment was there,” U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino told TNT’s broadcast after the final whistle. “I think it was perfect, the camp: the results were there, but most important, I think, is the feeling that we’ve now got at the end of this window. … I think it’s an amazing start in that window, to put the basics, and from here, it’s grow and grow.”
Pochettino rotated his starters one more time, picking a lineup that included Media’s Auston Trusty and Chester native George Campbell on the back line.
The newcomer caucus was goalkeeper Brian Schwake, midfielder Brooklyn Raines, winger Mathis Albert, and Ellis. The Union’s Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre were on the bench, with Frankie Westfield and Wayne-born goalkeeper Matt Freese not dressed.
» READ MORE: Cavan Sullivan’s stunning first USMNT goal was part of an incredible game against Mexico
Ellis took a pretty serious hit 20 minutes in, but managed to gut it out until halftime. He scored by meeting a sharp pass from former Orlando City teammate Alex Freeman, sticking the ball into an open net from close range.
It also was no surprise that the game was chippy, given the rivalry between the teams. Referee Steven Madrigal of Costa Rica called 43 fouls, and could have called more.
Each team could make 11 substitutions, understandable with a heavy load on the players’ legs. Pochettino started his moves at halftime, withdrawing Ellis, Gio Reyna. and Yunus Musah for Julian Hall, Sergiño Dest, and Sebastian Berhalter.
» READ MORE: Cavan Sullivan, Neil Pierre, and Frankie Westfield savor ‘a pinch-me moment’ with their USMNT debuts
Reyna notably was the only one of the 28 players on this U.S. squad to start all four games.
Albert and Raines were next to go, in the 61st, replaced by Cole Campbell and Tyler Adams. It was Campbell’s U.S. debut, as he was injured for some of the camp’s early days.
The winger with Elversberg of Germany’s Bundesliga also has a bit of a Philadelphia connection. His mother, Rakel Campbell (née Karvelsson), played one season for the old Charge in the Women’s United Soccer Association of the early 2000s.
» READ MORE: A Bridesburg basement and three older brothers helped Cavan Sullivan become the future of U.S. Soccer
Canada had a big scoring chance in the 63rd when Schwake pushed Mathieu Choinière’s shot on to his crossbar. Hall got an even bigger chance on a breakaway in the 71st, almost looked surprised to be so open, and shot to the outside of the net instead of into it.
Pierre entered in the 73rd, along with left back Antonee Robinson and midfielder Adri Mehmeti.
Sullivan, Pierre, and Westfield will be back on the practice field in Chester on Thursday, and should resume playing for the Union in Saturday’s home game against Real Salt Lake (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).
» READ MORE: Union alum Auston Trusty embraces being a USMNT role model for Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre
The U.S. team will reunite next month for a Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series against Haiti, with the winner advancing to the final four in March.
Some veteran players who weren’t on this squad are expected to return, such as Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie. But some of the newcomers made a real case for making the next cut too. In particular, Sullivan, Hall, Ellis, Schwake, and fellow goalkeeper Diego Kochen. Pierre and Mehmeti also had good moments.
