And so it has arrived, the most pivotal game of Gregg Berhalter’s tenure as USMNT manager as the tournament hosts take on Uruguay in their Copa America group stage finale in Kansas City on Monday.
[ MORE: USA suffer shock loss to Panama | Player ratings from defeat ]
If the USMNT doesn’t better the result Panama gets in their group stage finale against Bolivia, this extremely talented U.S. side will fail to qualify from a group they were expected to, at the very least, finish second in and challenge Marcelo Bielsa’s impressive Uruguay for top spot.
Things have not gone as planned after the No. 11 ranked USMNT lost 2-1 against No. 43 ranked Panama in Atlanta on Thursday to put themselves in a very tough spot in Group C. Sure, Tim Weah’s ridiculous early red card impacted the game massively but Berhalter’s side still coughed up a late goal to lose and have now put themselves one defeat from potential humiliation. Two years on from the World Cup on home soil, this was supposed to be the tournament where this talented group kicked on and Berhalter showed us what he is capable of.
[ MORE: 2024 Copa America predictions | Copa America schedule ]
As for Uruguay, well, they’ve been exceptional in their two games so far, beating Panama 3-1 and hammering Bolivia 5-0. Darwin Nunez is firing up top, Federico Valverde is the heart and soul of this team in midfield and Bielsa’s high-pressing tactics are blowing opponents away. He’s creating yet another masterpiece, but won’t be on the sidelines for this game as he has been suspended for Uruguay coming out late for the second half of both of their games so far.
The only hope the USMNT really have is that Bielsa (who will probably sit in the stands on his beloved bucket) rests a few of his key players ahead of the knockout rounds. Even then, a win for the USMNT against Uruguay is a big ask. We are about to see if this USMNT squad is capable of beating an elite team, something they haven’t done under Berhalter since he took charge in 2018. If the USMNT don’t win, it could finally be the end for Berhalter.
How to watch Uruguay vs USMNT, stream link and start time
Kick off: 9pm ET, Monday (July 1)
Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
How to watch on TV, stream in USA: FS1, Fox Sports
Uruguay vs USMNT live updates — By Nick Mendola
Uruguay vs USMNT live score: 1-0
Goalscorers: M. Olivera (66′)
Mathias Olivera goal! Uruguay 1-0 USMNT (66th minute)
Uruguay have a free kick from the right.
Ronald Araujo beats Tim Ream to the ball and Turner saves the header.
But the ball is put in by Mathias Olivera, who is — waiting through a long VAR review — onside.
Bolivia equalize vs Panama!
As it stands, USMNT go through to the knockout rounds.
USMNT in this and Scally fighting through injury
Are we in for another USMNT change 10 minutes into the second half?
Scally looks like he can’t keep going and Shaq Moore is warming up to replace the Borussia Monchengladbach man.
But Scally will try to play.
Halftime — Uruguay 0-0 USMNT
An absolute brawl with three yellow cards, an injury-forced sub for each team, 13 fouls, and only four shot attempts.
The xG is 0.53-0.01 in favor of Uruguay, while possession is 50:50.
It’s been a heck of a watch, but the Balogun exit hurts. Uruguay have Luis Suarez, Brian Rodriguez, and Rodrigo Bentancur on the bench.
The Yanks could turn to Haji Wright, Josh Sargemt, or Malik Tillman. They need to win, as Panama has the lead versus Bolivia. The Bolivian equalizer was overturned.
Darwin Nunez yellow as Scally shaken up
Darwin Nunez sweeps his leg through Joe Scally, dropping the American near the touch line.
He’ll see yellow —- Uruguay’s first.
Scally remains down for treatment but will stay in the game at least to halftime, which is looming.
Kristoffer Lund and Shaq Moore are the fullback options on the bench unless Berhalter drops McKennie or Musah from the midfield or swings Ream to left back or Richards to right back.
Balogun pulls up
Gregg Berhalter has to make a switch as Folarin Balogun pulls up, grabbing his hip after pressing to recover the ball.
Ricardo Pepi enters in the 41st minute.
Pure chaos
Chris Richards chops down De la Cruz and is shown a yellow card.
Uruguay play a quick restart while the referee is pulling out the card…. and he lets it play forward!
Matt Turner is beaten but Tim Ream makes a heroic recovery to clear the danger for a throw.
Penalty controversy as Folarin Balogun down
Folarin Balogun is taken down by Ronald Araujo in the box and the forward as well as Uruguay keeper Sergio Rochet are shaken up.
Balogun was offside on the entry, so penalty is coming, and he’s going to stay in the game.
Bolivia have scored. 1-1. USMNT now going through if nothing changes.
Scary injury as Ream collides with
Uruguay players are feverishly calling for trainers after an ugly collision following the side’s first corner kick.
USMNT back Tim Ream and Maximiliano Araujo were involved in the incident, and Araujo is being stretchered off the pitch with a neck brace.
LAFC’s Cristian Olivera takes Araujo’s place.
Panama have scored against Bolivia. As it stands, the USMNT is going out.
Tyler Adams sees yellow
The USMNT midfielder catches Olivera, who catches him, too.
It’s a yellow card shown to Adams in the 17th minute.
Couple of U.S. corners and a chance on the break
If you had any questions about the commitment and desperation of the USMNT players, they should be answered by this display.
The Yanks have won two corners and Giovanni Reyna swept in a decent cross that was collected by Rochet.
It’s only 14 minutes, but the table is set for a solid showing win or lose.
This… is…. already… a street fight
Wow. Both teams have fired out of the traps and tackles are flying in from angles.
Weston McKennie and Maximiliano Araujo tangle near the end line in the first few minutes and Antonee Robinson crunches into Facundo Pellistri.
What’s on the line tonight?
While we can’t guarantee that Gregg Berhalter’s job is on the line tonight — the Yanks could play very well against Uruguay and still lose — his stock sure could use a win over a good team not named Mexico (who isn’t exactly in a golden generation). The USMNT, after all, barely escaped a straight-forward World Cup group and has lost to Panama here.
But not making it out of the group stage would leave questions lingering until the World Cup. Afer all, they won’t be playing many strong teams and certainly not in matches of consequence considering they’re already heading to the 2026 World Cup as a host. It would be really nice for Berhalter and the boys to have a big-stage win over a top-20 team.
Uruguay lineup
Rochet, Nandez, R. Araujo, Olivera, Vina, Ugarte, Valverde, De La Cruz, M. Araujo, Pellistri, Nunez
USMNT lineup
Turner; A. Robinson, Ream, Richards, Scally; Adams, McKennie, Musah; Reyna, Balogun, Pulisic
Uruguay team news, focus
Luis Suarez, Rodrigo Bentancur and Giorgian de Arrascaeta could all come into the starting lineup, while Ugarte, Valverde and Nunez may get a rest. Still, whatever team Uruguay put out there it’s stacked with incredible talent and Bielsa will be eager to win the game and go through as group winners, as the prospect of facing Brazil in the quarterfinals is looking a little easier than facing Colombia right now. At the moment Uruguay look like they best team at this tournament and along with Argentina are the favorites to win it all.
USMNT team news, focus
Obviously someone is coming in for Weah and that should probably be Yunus Musah to give the USMNT some extra midfield solidity. That would mean a midfield trio of Adams, McKennie and Musah, with Pulisic and Reyna ahead of them and Balogun up top. Is that going to happen? Probably not. We could see Musah or McKennie start on the right, with Luca de la Torre or Johnny Cardoso coming into central midfield, while Brenden Aaronson could also start on the right in a straight swap to stop all of his shifting around. All of this sums up what a nightmare it was to lose Weah to that red card as right wing is an area where the USMNT doesn’t have a lot of depth. At the back the four of Robinson, Ream, Richards and Scally should continue. Matt Turner’s injury is a big issue, so Ethan Horvath will come in if Turner isn’t available and the Cardiff City goalkeeper looked shaky against Panama.
Uruguay vs USMNT prediction
The USMNT will do their best to hang in there and make it tough for Uruguay but it will be extremely tough for the U.S. to match the tempo and speed of play from Bielsa’s side. It will be tighter than most expect, but Uruguay will get the job done and the USMNT will have to hope for a favor from Bolivia. Uruguay 2-1 USMNT.
