United States men’s soccer upsets Mexico to lift 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Miles Robinson scored on a header in the 117th minute and a United States “B team” upset a mostly front-line Mexico side 1-0 on Sunday night to win the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Kellyn Acosta, the only player in the U.S. lineup who gets playing time when the first-choice roster is together, took a free kick and Robinson outjumped Edson Álvarez and headed the ball in on one hop to the right of goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera.

Robinson, a 24-year-old defender, got his third international goal in nine international appearances, his second goal of the tournament.

MILES ROBINSON IN THE 117TH MINUTE 😱

The @USMNT takes the lead!!!!f pic.twitter.com/1CwsO0qQWe

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 2, 2021

Matt Turner got his fifth shutout in six matches of the Gold Cup and was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

The U.S. won its seventh Gold Cup title, its first since 2017, matching Mexico for the most in the 15 tournaments. Canada won in 2000. It was just the second victory for the Americans in seven finals against El Tri and the first since 2007.

Those three countries will jointly host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The U.S. has won nine consecutive games overall and 14 home games in a row.

Top players, who are with their clubs for European preseasons, will return when the U.S. opens World Cup qualifying at El Salvador on Sept. 2. Mexico starts at home that day against Jamaica.

Before an overwhelmingly pro-Mexico crowd, El Tri started seven of the 11 players who began the Nations League Final that the U.S. won in extra time in June: defenders Luis Rodríguez, Néstor Araujo, Héctor Moreno and Jesús Gallardo plus midfielders Álvarez, Jesús Corona and Héctor Herrera.

The newcomers were: Talavera –starting in place of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa who is representing Mexico at the Olympics in Tokyo — Carlos Rodríguez, midfielders Jonathan dos Santos and Orbelín Pineda, and forward Rogelio Funes Mori, plus Uriel Antuna and Hirving “Chucky” Lozano.

The U.S. lineup included nine players from MLS.

The field Concacaf chose was 69 yards wide, narrower than the recommended 75 yards.

U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter made four changes from the lineup in the semifinal win over Qatar, inserting Cannon for Shaq Moore, Bello for Sam Vine, Williamson for Gianluca Busio and Zardes for Daryl Dike.

Busio scored for Sporting KC against Phoenix Rising in a preseason match earlier this year.