The USA have won the CONCACAF Nations League for the third time in a row – and for the third time, Dortmund’s Giovanni Reyna made his mark in the final
The hat-trick is complete: the USA have won every edition of the Nations League for the third time in a row, and thus every edition since its inception. Giovanni Reyna, currently on loan from Borussia Dortmund to Premier League club Nottingham Forest, had already excelled during the tournament and scored with around half an hour to go to make it 2-0 (63′). Afterwards, the 21-year-old was unsurprisingly named the best player of the tournament.
Reyna had been absolutely convincing during the course of the Nations League. The attacking player had already played a decisive role in the 3:1 win after extra time in the dramatic semi-final against Jamaica with his two assists for 2:1 and 3:1 – both for former Schalke player Haji Wright.
And US fans already knew that Reyna can play in finals: the right-footer scored one goal and one assist in the 2021 final – a 3-2 win over Mexico after extra time. In the 2023 final against Canada, Reyna set up both goals in a 2-0 win.
Former Leipzig player Tyler Adams set up Sunday’s victory in the final when he was played in by former Schalke player Weston McKennie – and then fired the ball into the top left-hand corner from over 30 meters (45′).
Multiple interruptions to the match – fans “taken out of the arena “
Meanwhile, Mexican fans caused a scandal by causing several interruptions to the game in the closing stages. What had happened? Referee Drew Fischer from Canada interrupted the game several times because homophobic chants were started by Mexican fans. According to CONCACAF, the security staff in Arlington, Texas, then “identified a significant number of the fans involved and removed them from the arena”.
Reyna and his colleagues were also pelted with objects after the decisive 2:0 goal. Unacceptable for US coach Gregg Berhalter: “We want a great atmosphere, but not to have things thrown at us. That’s dangerous, someone could get hurt. “
Meanwhile, CONCACAF has not announced any disciplinary measures in relation to the Mexican gaffes. It merely stated: “It is extremely disappointing that this matter continues to be an issue in some games, especially in the context that in two years there is a tremendous opportunity to grow the sport in our region.” The USA, Mexico and Canada will host the World Cup in 2026
