A momentous day for Gregg Berhalter and his United States staff started with torrential rain and flash flood warnings in Kansas Metropolis. Then, as kickoff approached, the ocean of ​​grey clouds slowly dissipated and made manner for wonderful sunshine.
In the long run, any hopes that this dramatic change in fortunes would enhance for Berhalter and firm had been belied, as a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay of their remaining group match on the Copa America noticed them knocked out on the first hurdle.
What ought to have been the proper springboard to a World Cup on house soil in two years' time was stuffed with confidence and perception, however as a substitute it resulted in catastrophe. The USA will now play no half on this sporting pageant on their very own turf, as Panama's 3-1 win in opposition to Bolivia within the different essential Group C match has confirmed they are going to enter the knockout levels on the hosts' expense.
Right here, in entrance of 55,460 spectators at Arrowhead Stadium, house of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Mathias Oliveira's 66th-minute purpose accomplished a clear sweep for Marcelo Bielsa's spectacular visiting facet; three wins from three within the group stage – although the enduring head coach was not there to witness it firsthand as a result of touchline restrictions.
America was eradicated from the Copa America after shedding 1-0 to Uruguay in Kansas Metropolis on Monday.
Followers made their emotions clear about Gregg Berhalter's future from the stands
Calls to alleviate the USA head coach of his place had been rising louder even earlier than a ball was kicked tonight. Followers wore 'Berhalter Out' T-shirts and held up placards bearing the identical message, after final week's disastrous 2-1 loss to Panama left many supporters upset.
After a modified model of the Star-Spangled Banner – which concluded with 'And the Chiefs are house!' – echoed by the stands, the primary 10 minutes had been gradual and contested as each groups struggled with a barely worn enjoying floor.
But as the primary half wore on, the USA progressively elevated its tempo and commenced to benefit from the noise inside Arrowhead.
That they had their first likelihood within the thirteenth minute when Weston McKennie handed the ball to Giovanni Reyna from the left facet of the field, however Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet received down to dam the ball from going into the purpose.
With the win virtually sure to undergo, USA carried out strongly from the beginning like a staff that was risking its life. Towards the strongest staff ever, Uruguay, who had been hoping to win the title after 13 years, they had been in management from the beginning.
Nonetheless, regardless of all of the vitality, all the need to make a distinction and a few rekindled optimism, the likes of Reyna, Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun failed to actually take a look at Rochet regardless of their encouraging begins. Then the ominous information from Orlando injected the primary dose of tension into proceedings; Panama had blown a lead in opposition to Bolivia, and as issues stood, the host nation was packing up.
It seemed as in the event that they knew the essential rating of the night time, however instantly USA got here to life. Jose Fajardo's opener in Florida lit up the ambiance each on the sphere and within the stands as Uruguay lastly discovered a foothold in the midst of the sphere. Actual Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde started to dominate the sport, combining with Flamengo's harmful Nicolas de la Cruz. Liverpool's Darwin Nunez performed fantastically, however as regular, the top end result was missing.
Controversial refereeing choices proved to be the primary situation within the surprising loss to Panama. Nonetheless, if American followers had complaints about final week's refereeing, Peruvian referee Kevin Ortega raised a brand new degree of concern right here.
Christian Pulisic yelled within the referee's face, which sparked a complete controversy
On the finish of the match, Mathias Oliveira scored the successful purpose for Uruguay
American followers flocked to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas Metropolis, however in the long run Uruguay gained 1-0.
Of Ortega's questionable calls on the night time, none had been more unusual than when, within the thirty second minute, he let Nunez take a brief free-kick for no purpose and caught the USA sleeping simply as he was giving Chris Richards a yellow card for a foul on De La Cruz. To his embarrassment and to keep away from additional anger, Tim Ream fortunately raced again and made a vital block to cease Nahitan Nandez.
Issues reached boiling level once more 10 minutes later, once more the results of a weird refereeing transfer. Richards' clearance appeared to go in off Manuel Ugarte's arm as Uruguay continued to press for the opener.
The ball fell to Pulisic halfway by the USA half, who made a pointy flip to beat his opponent and launch a counter-attack. It was solely at that late level that Ortega blew his whistle for a handball on Ugarte, refusing to play what seemed like a transparent benefit 10 seconds after the alleged offence.
Moments earlier, Berhalter suffered a significant blow when first-choice striker Folarin Balogun left the sphere injured, changed by Ricardo Pepi. Earlier within the night time the 22-year-old had come below hearth from a powerful problem from Ronald Araujo however was unpunished, and the results had been evident even earlier than the halftime whistle.
With Panama advancing, Uruguay strengthening and Ortega changing into Public Enemy No. 1, Balogun’s withdrawal left a bittersweet feeling that this night time won’t be America’s.
The strain is now on Berhalter after his facet had been eradicated on the first hurdle at house.
Tyler Adams was among the many USMNT squad that was eradicated within the group stage of the Copa America.
After the interval it was clear that Uruguay had been main by an enormous margin. Regardless that Bielsa was not there to push them forward at half-time, the guests missed numerous shut photographs within the first 10 minutes of the second half. Valverde, who had discovered his rhythm by then, fired a rocket from distance which simply missed the mark.
Simply as hope appeared to be fading, simply because the US seemed like a staff operating out of concepts and stamina, extra information got here in from Orlando. This time it introduced again the US troops inside Arrowhead alive.
Bolivia, who had not scored a purpose up to now on this match, secured victory for Berhalter and Co. by equalizing in opposition to Panama and dramatically altering the narrative in Group C. Or so it felt that manner.
Uruguay's Ronald Araújo (heart) celebrates after Oliveira's successful purpose in opposition to the USMNT
Goalkeeper Matt Turner hugs supervisor Berhalter at full-time of the sport at Arrowhead
As a result of a second later, as hopeful chants of “USA, USA” reverberated across the 4 partitions of this well-known stadium, Uruguay burst their very own bubble and flipped the script as soon as once more.
De la Cruz first fired a free-kick from the appropriate and Ronald Araujo headed it in, forcing Turner to avoid wasting. The ball fell to substitute Oliveira, who scored from shut vary to interrupt the impasse and American hearts.
There was a prolonged VAR test, however the conclusion was that Oliveira was narrowly proper and the purpose stood.
And to actually put the ultimate nail within the coffin, moments later Panama took the lead in Florida, bringing the Event of the Americas to an abrupt finish.
