The United States men’s national team suffered its first home loss to Canada in 67 years, as it continued its struggles from this summer’s Copa América in Saturday’s friendly in Kansas City, Kansas.
In its first game since exiting the Copa América at the group stage and the subsequent removal of Gregg Berhalter as head coach, the U.S. was well beaten by its neighbors to the north.
The 2-1 win was Canada’s second-ever victory over the USMNT on U.S. soil in 27 games, and first since 1957 in St. Louis.
While Mauricio Pochettino is expected to imminently be announced as Berhalter’s high-profile replacement, the U.S. was under the interim charge of former assistant Mikey Varas. Canada, meanwhile, continued to display its upward trajectory under another former U.S. assistant coach, and one-time candidate for head coach, Jesse Marsch.
Canada, which reached the semifinals of its first Copa in July, was particularly dominant in the first half. Jacob Shaffelburg scored the opening goal in the 17th minute and Canada could have been more than one goal up on its listless opponents by half-time.
A deserved second goal arrived for Canada through forward Jonathan David just before the hour-mark. Though the Americans were improved after half-time and Luca de la Torre halved its deficit in the 66th minute, it was not enough to avoid the USMNT sinking to a third straight loss.
The U.S. will next face New Zealand in Cincinnati on Tuesday.
Information from ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this report.
