A sensational, helter skelter Concacaf Nations League final between the USMNT and Mexico in Denver, Colorado, was ultimately won 3-2 by the home nation after a 120-minute match that included sensational moments of play, godawful refereeing, raucous fan behavior, five goals and a backup goalkeeper making a decisive penalty save at the death.
After pre-match talk that centered on the experience of this Mexico team compared with the youthful naivety of the U.S., maybe it wasn’t so surprising to see Mark McKenzie pass it straight to Jesús Corona for the game’s opening goal with only one minute on the clock.
Tecatito was a surprise inclusion in the starting lineup because of fitness concerns, but the Porto attacker is Tim Weah’s hero for a reason.
¡Goooooooooool de @miseleccionmx!
Error garrafal de Estados Unidos en la defensa y el Tecatito no sabe fallar. ¡Golazo del Tri!0-1 #PasiónYOrgullo | #TeamUSA | #FinalFourEnTUDN
¡En vivo!
TUDN
Síguelo aquí https://t.co/788SwtOGLl pic.twitter.com/rppkbh0bLd— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) June 7, 2021
We thought Héctor Moreno had given El Tri a 2-0 lead in the 24th minute, but VAR rightfully called it back for offside. Three minutes later, Weston McKennie struck the post with a header off a corner and Gio Reyna was there to bury the rebound.
GIO REYNA FINDS THE EQUALIZER pic.twitter.com/KT2cKWVWz3
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 7, 2021
The scoreline remained the same until the 79th minute, when Diego Lainez produced an individual moment of magic to give Mexico the lead (for three minutes).
¡Gooooool golaaaaaaaaaaazo de @miseleccionmx! ⚽
Pero qué manera de entrar al partido, qué golazo se acaba de mandar Lainez.1-2 #PasiónYOrgullo | #TeamUSA | #ElGiganteDeConcacaf | #FinalFourEnTUDN
¡En vivo!
TUDN
Síguelo aquí https://t.co/788SwtOGLl pic.twitter.com/xndFSliY1F— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) June 7, 2021
But McKennie again levitated on a corner to equalize for the U.S.
NOT SO FAST! WESTON MCKENNIE pic.twitter.com/sLCRPhqML5
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 7, 2021
In added time, Christian Pulisic, who’d been enduring a difficult evening, earned and converted a penalty to put the U.S. up 3-2 with just 15 minutes to go.
CHRISTIAN PULISIC GIVES THE @USMNT THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/WRDgXL6LXF
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 7, 2021
The call looked harsh on Mexico after looking at the replay, but the ref — as he’d done all game — called it poorly both ways. He gave El Tri a penalty in stoppage time, and Ethan Horvath, who’d replaced Zack Steffen in the 69th minute after the Manchester City keeper went down holding his leg, came up clutch.
What a moment for Ethan Horvath pic.twitter.com/qmx0x6al6z
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 7, 2021
It's the first Concacaf Nations League title for the USMNT, which is one more than any other nation.
CAMPEONES! pic.twitter.com/WA1CDFQYPV
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) June 7, 2021