Still awaiting a permanent coach, the U.S. men’s national soccer team lost 2-1 to Canada in a friendly in Kansas City, Kan., on Saturday.
Canada won in the United States for the first time since 1957.
Jacob Shaffelburg (17th minute) and Jonathan David (58th minute) staked Canada to the lead before Luca de la Torre scored his first U.S. goal in the 66th.
The match was the first for the Americans since their implosion at the 2024 Copa America in which they failed to get out of the group stage on their home soil, costing head coach Gregg Berhalter his job on July 10.
Reports surfaced Aug. 15 that former Chelsea manager Maurico Pochettino had agreed to become the U.S. coach. However, negotiations on a buyout with Chelsea have gone slower than expected and he has not been officially signed, leaving former Berhalter assistant Mikey Varas to carry the interim coach tag.
Shaffelburg opened as the Canadians overpowered the hosts from the onset. Canada scored its first goal against the U.S. on American soil in 19 matches dating back to 1985.
The Canadians outshot the Americans 11-1 and had all five corners through the first 45 minutes. U.S. goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, the starter at the Paris Olympics for the U-23 team, was forced to make four saves to keep the Americans in the match in an otherwise dispirited effort.
Schulte made one second-half save, in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Schulte, who helped the Columbus Crew win the 2023 MLS Cup, made his second senior national team start and responded to the early goal by making an outstanding stop on Cyle Larin in the 32nd minute.
A Tim Ream turnover led to David’s goal from the left side of the box.
The score by de la Torre came four minutes after he entered the match. He stepped into a loose ball for the middle of the box, leaving Maxime Crepeau little chance to make a save, although he had four in the second half.
–Field Level Media
