US qualifies for Copa América despite 2-1 loss at Trinidad after Sergiño Dest ejected for arguing

Sergiño Dest lost his composure in a needless disagreement with the referee, getting a set of yellow cards for dissent in a 30-second period that threatened the United States’ berth in next year’s Copa América.

Trinidad won 2-1 on Monday night in Port-of-Spain, getting rid of a deficit by scoring two times after Dest’s 39th-minute ejection left the U.S. a guy short, The Americans hung on to win the total-goals series 4-2 and make areas in the 16-nation Copa América and the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals.

U.S. captain Tim Ream exposed there were “option words” for Dest at halftime.

” Few things I can state here openly that we stated independently,” Ream stated. “It’s a total disrespect for guys on the bench, on the field.”

Following a 3-0 win recently at Austin, Texas, Antonee Robinson scored in the 25th minute off Dest’s cross to offer the 11th-ranked U.S. a four-goal series lead in the Nations League quarterfinal.

Reon Moore connected ball game in the 43rd off a long ball from Alvin Jines, surpassing protector Cameron Carter-Vickers and beating Turner to the near post. Jones put the 99th-ranked Soca Warriors ahead in the 57th with a 30-yard totally free kick off the hands of goalkeeper Matt Turner, who attempted to parry the swerving shot. Jones scored a comparable long-range objective in October 2017 versus Tim Howard in a 2-1 win at Couva, about 20 miles south, that ended the Americans’ streak of World Cup looks at 7.

The U.S. remained in control till Dest, disturbed an assistant referee ruled he didn’t keep a ball from heading out near midfield, punted the ball away towards the back. That made the very first yellow from Guatemalan referee Walter López, and the 23-year-old protector then pointed towards where no nasty was called minutes previously when Andre Rampersad pressed him over.

” It’s untenable,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter stated. “It was surreal.”

Dest argued with López as Gio Reyna and Ream attempted to keep him away, Reyna attempting to cover Dest’s mouth. López raised 2 fingers and revealed a 2nd yellow and a red. Ream and Turner shouted at Dest as he strolled off the field.

” It is worrying since that’s not what we represent, that’s not who we are as a group,” Berhalter stated. “We pride ourselves in remaining psychologically disciplined, fighting through any kind of conditions. Whether they’re excellent choices or bad choices, we’re expected to keep going and react in a proper method, which certainly wasn’t the ideal reaction from Sergiño. He said sorry to the group. He stated it’s not going to take place once again. As a group, the gamers, the personnel, we require to hold him responsible.”

Dest will be suspended for the Nations League semifinal in March. He missed this year’s Nations League last after getting a red card and a three-game restriction for scuffling in the semifinal versus Mexico.

” We were really firm with with our words after the video game,” Berhalter stated. “He put a variety of guys in jeopardy, made a variety of guys do a great deal of additional operate in this weather condition.”

American group spokesperson Michael Kammarman stated CONCACAF guidelines restrict gamers who get red cards from speaking to media after matches. CONCACAF basic secretary Philippe Moggio referred an ask for remark to spokesperson Alvaro Urrutia, who pointed out the guideline. Neither Moggio not Urrutia described why the guideline obstructing media gain access to remained in location.

” Serge has actually done a fantastic task of growing and growing for many years that he’s been with the group and for him this needs to be a knowing experience,” Berhalter stated. “We offer individuals 2nd possibilities. We deal with individuals. We assist them conquer circumstances like this.”

” What I do not desire this to become is a witch hunt,” Berhalter included. “He’s a young gamer, is a great part of this group. He’s going to find out. He’s going to grow. He made a dumb error. He understands that. He said sorry to the group and we have actually moved on.”

The U.S. ended up the year with 11 wins, 4 losses and 3 draws, going 4-2 in the start of Berhalter’s 2nd term as coach. The match in mainly empty Hasely Crawford Arena was 34 years and one day after Paul Caligiuri’s objective there raised the U.S. to a 1-0 win and into its very first World Cup in 40 years.

Robinson scored on a diving header from Dest’s cross, managing Shannon Gomez and rerouting the ball previous goalkeeper Denzil Smith from 10 lawns for his 4th global objective and 2nd in 2 video games. Robinson tucked the ball under his jersey in the event to show his fiancée is anticipating a kid in April.

The sensation resembled the one at Costa Rica in March 2022, when the U.S. received the World Cup in spite of a 2-0 defeat.

” It’s certainly bittersweet,” Robinson stated.