The U.S. men's national team suffered its first home loss to Canada in 67 years as it continued its woes from this summer's Copa America in Saturday's friendly in Kansas City, Kansas.
In their first match since their group stage elimination from the Copa America and the subsequent dismissal of Gregg Berhalter as head coach, the United States were soundly defeated by their northern neighbors.
The 2-1 victory was Canada's second win over the USMNT on American soil in 27 games, and its first since 1957 in St. Louis.
While Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be announced imminently as Berhalter’s high-profile replacement, the U.S. was under the interim charge of former assistant Mikey Varas. Canada, meanwhile, continued to show its upward trajectory under another former U.S. assistant coach — and one-time U.S. head coaching candidate — Jesse Marsch.
Canada, which reached the semi-finals of its first World Cup in July, was particularly dominant in the first half. Jacob Shaffelburg scored the opener in the 17th minute and Canada could have been more than a goal ahead of its listless opponents at halftime.
Canada's second goal came deservedly from forward Jonathan David just before the hour mark. Although the Americans improved after halftime and Luca de la Torre's first international goal reduced the deficit in the 66th minute, it was not enough to prevent the team from suffering its third consecutive loss.
Images by Jay Biggerstaff
The United States will face New Zealand on Tuesday in Cincinnati.
The U.S. national team’s 23-match unbeaten streak at home against Canada had been its longest ever against any opponent. But there was little evidence of that history, as Canada outshot the U.S. 11-1 in the first half.
Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte made his second international start, replacing Matt Turner, who hasn't played a club game since April 2. Tim Ream started after transferring from Fulham to Charlotte.
No MLS player had started in the previous six matches and only eight of the 198 starting positions were filled by MLS players in the 18 games in which the full squad was available since the 2022 World Cup.
Canada took the lead when Schulte picked up the ball after a back pass and sent it wide to Ream, whose cross into the opposite half to Johnny Cardoso bounced off the midfielder and was collected by Stephen Eustáquio. He passed the ball to David, who made a first-time pass to Shaffelburg. He touched the ball and slid it past Schulte's left hand to score his fourth goal in 17 international matches.
Canada scored the first goal against the Americans in the United States for the first time in 19 games since 1985.
David scored after taking Ream's pass and crossing to Cyle Larin. Kristoffer Lund sent the ball to David, who beat Schulte at the near post from 7 yards out. David's 29 goals tied Larin for Canada's all-time scoring record.
Six U.S. players sat out the Copa America loss to Uruguay: Ream, fellow defenders Chris Richards and Joe Scally, midfielder Yunus Musah and forwards Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic.
Information from The Associated Press and ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this report.
