.png){kind=logo}
2 days ago
2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The United States was eliminated from the Copa America with a 1-0 nonaccomplishment to Uruguay connected a Mathías Olivera's questionable second-half extremity connected Monday night, a decision that volition summation unit connected the U.S. Soccer Federation to region manager Gregg Berhalter earlier the 2026 World Cup.
Uruguay scored successful the 66th infinitesimal erstwhile Nicolas De La Cruz swung a escaped footwear successful beforehand of the U.S. goal. Matt Turner parried a header by Ronald Araújo, who outjumped defender Tim Ream, but the rebound went close to Mathias Olivera and helium tapped the shot successful with his near foot.
Olivera appeared to beryllium offside connected the archetypal header but the extremity stood aft a video review.
Using a lineup of players wholly from European clubs, Berhalter and the U.S. hoped to amusement the squad had precocious since its round-of-16 elimination against the Netherlands astatine the 2026 World Cup. Instead, the U.S. opened with a 2-0 nonaccomplishment to lowly Bolivia and were upset 2-1 by Panama.
Three minutes earlier Uruguay scored, the U.S. was successful presumption to beforehand erstwhile Bruno Miranda tied the people for Bolivia against Panama successful a crippled that started simultaneously successful Orlando, Florida. But Panama went connected to a 3-1 triumph and claimed the 2nd spot successful Group C down Uruguay.
Berhalter was rehired successful June 2023 and fixed a declaration done the 2026, which the U.S. volition co-host with Canada and Mexico. But contempt a lineup that included Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, the U.S. failed to adjacent lucifer its past Copa America appearance, erstwhile it mislaid to Argentina successful the 2016 quarterfinals.
The U.S. adjacent plays September friendlies against Canada and New Zealand.
Uruguay played without manager Marcelo Biesla, suspended for sending his squad retired precocious for the 2nd fractional of its archetypal 2 games. Diego Reyes and Pablo Quiroga were successful complaint connected a mild but humid nighttime successful Kansas City.
Berhalter and the Americans knew their concern was dire — Pulisic astatine 1 constituent said they would request to play “the champion crippled of our lives” to beforehand — and they looked similar a squad with thing to suffer for astir of the archetypal half.
It was 1 marked by carnal play and questionable calls.
Folarin Balogun, who had 2 goals already successful the tournament, bore the brunt of respective challenges. He was near calling for assistance aft a collision with Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, past was near rolling connected the tract aft Araújo’s situation aboriginal successful the half. Balogun yet had to permission with a hep pointer and Ricardo Pepi took his place.
Uruguay mislaid Maximilliano Araújo earlier successful the fractional aft a scary collision with Ream adjacent the U.S. goal. He had to beryllium taken disconnected the tract connected a stretcher, though helium was capable to determination his arms earlier heading up the tunnel.
In the mediate of the chaos was 32-year-old Peruvian referee Kevin Ortega, who made respective questionable calls that wounded the U.S.
The archetypal came erstwhile Ortega began to propulsion a yellowish paper and halt play, past allowed it to proceed — portion inactive holding the paper — arsenic Uruguay astir scored connected an attack. The 2nd came erstwhile the U.S. had a wide vantage aft a manus shot connected Uruguay, but the Peruvian referee yet blew his whistle and called the play backmost for a escaped kick.
Uruguay started to use much unit midway done the 2nd half, past had the Americans successful desperation mode aft Olivera recovered the backmost of the net. And portion the U.S. had a fewer bully runs, and a mates of bully opportunities successful the box, a squad that had specified large expectations was incapable to find the 2 goals it needed — oregon adjacent one.
___
AP Copa America coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/copa-americ
___
AP Copa America coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/copa-america
English (US)