USA win their second straight Nations League title after beating Canada 2-0

When Crystal Palace center back Chris Richards struck a powerful header just 12 minutes into the match against Canada, he had done something no other men’s national team player had: score their first goal for the USMNT in a final.

And then Folarin Balogun did the exact same thing just 22 minutes later.

Interim manager B.J. Callaghan’s risk in fielding an attacking-minded lineup paid off in the form of a 2-0 win to clinch the USA’s second CONCACAF Nations League title. 

With Weston McKennie suspended due to a red card from the shambolically refereed USA-Mexico matchup, Callaghan decided to add Brenden Aaronson to his midfield setup consisting of Yunus Musah and Gio Reyna.

Reyna proved to be a serious engine for the United States – playing like a man who wants to show his future (and former) boss exactly why he should have had more playing time in Qatar.

Chris Richards celebrated scoring his first USMNT goal in a 2-0 win over Canada

The first goal in Folarin Balogun’s (20) US career also went in during the Nations League final

It was a fantastic night from Gio Reyna who turned in a Man of the Match game in just one half

It was Reyna who whipped in a perfectly placed corner for Richards to get a head on – with the defender knocking the ball past the diving arms of Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan to put it in the back of the net.

Richards, the Alabama native who had spent time with Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim before his move to South London last summer – raced to the corner flag whilst screaming his head off in jubilation.

But Reyna deserves serious credit for the second goal as well – slipping a sublimely timed through ball right into the path of Balogun.

Flo Balogun, the Arsenal product who just committed to the United States weeks ago, outmuscled SSV Jahn Regensburg center back Scott Kennedy, wrapping his right foot around the ball and past Borjan’s left shoulder to make things 2-0.

But the second half saw a change in tone as Reyna came off due to a calf injury, per the USMNT twitter account.

Canada seemed more on the front foot, but their formation seemed to betray what they truly needed.

Reyna grabbed the assists on both goals – one from a corner and one by a through ball

Alphonso Davies (19) and Canada had trouble finding holes in the American backline

Manager John Herdman’s 5-3-2 kept speedy options like Alastair Johnston as a right side center back while Richie Laryea and Ismael Kone tried to get balls up top to Jonathan David.

Eventually, things were shifted to a 4-4-2, but even then their attempts to get the ball into dangerous areas seemed to be a blunt dagger.

It took Herdman until the 60th minute to bring on his first substitutes of the game – bringing on Steven Vitoria for Kennedy, Sam Adekugbe for Jonathan Osorio, and Tajon Buchanan for Johnston.

Why it took Buchanan, one of Canada’s most dynamic attacking options from the World Cup, so long to see the pitch is quite baffling – especially considering he’d be linking up with ex-Club Brugge teammate Cyle Larin on the left side.

It left a lot of Canada’s attack up to the footwork and speed of Alphonso Davies as well as Buchanan, Laryea, and Kone to get up the field.

But oftentimes, their attacks were inefficient and the box did not always have friendly bodies to turn in shots for Les Rouges.

Effort for that deserves to go to the American backline – especially for a sublime performance from Fulham fullback Antonee ‘Jedi’ Robinson. 

Antonee ‘Jedi’ Robinson (5) and the rest of the USA were able to keep the clean sheet

It’s the first championship victory for interim USMNT manager B.J. Callaghan who will be leading a different roster into the upcoming Gold Cup fixtures beginning next week

Canada’s most dangerous effort came in the fourth minute of stoppage time – where Davies’ pass found the feet of Kamal Miller, who flicked it back to David who slotted it across for Buchanan, but couldn’t connect.

Shortly after, the referee blew the final whistle – shockingly 20 seconds prior to the fully allotted five minutes.

But Canada would not have been able to find the difference – as their chance to win a major continental trophy for the first time since the 2000 Gold Cup slipped away.

It was a night for Callaghan’s men to be champions once again – and with a change in management on the horizon, the next time we’ll see this ‘A’ team won’t be until the fall.