United States coach Gregg Berhalter congratulates goalkeeper Matt Turner after losing 0-1 against Uruguay at the end of their Copa America Group C soccer match in Kansas City, Mo., on Monday.
Reed Hoffman / AP / FR48783 AP
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Reed Hoffman / AP / FR48783 AP
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The United States were eliminated from the Copa America with a 1-0 loss to Uruguay on Mathías Olivera’s questionable second-half goal on Monday night, a defeat sure to increase pressure on the US Soccer Federation to sack coach Gregg Berhalter. before the 2026 World Cup.
Uruguay scored in the 66th minute when Nicolas De La Cruz swung a free kick in front of the USA goal. Matt Turner met Ronald Araújo’s header, which beat defender Tim Ream, but it rebounded to Mathias Olivera and he tapped the ball in with his left foot.
Olivera was ruled offside in an early header but the goal was upheld after a video review.
Using a lineup of players from European clubs, Berhalter and the U.S. hope to show their team has progressed since the round of 16 against the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup. However, the U.S. could only win 2-0 against lowly Bolivia and were beaten 2-1 by Panama. , making things difficult Monday night.
“We had a good start and brought a lot of energy but at the end of the day, the quality was not enough,” said US captain Christian Pulisic. “I think I gave it my all but I just couldn’t score.”
Three minutes before Uruguay scored, the U.S. was in a position to go ahead when Bruno Miranda tied Bolivia’s score against Panama in a game that started at the same time in Orlando, Florida. But Panama won 3-1 and took second place in Group C behind Uruguay.
Berhalter was rehired in June 2023 and is under contract through the upcoming World Cup, which the U.S. will host along with Canada and Mexico. But despite a lineup that included Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, the U.S. failed to match their last Copa America appearance, losing to Argentina in the 2016 semifinals.
During the second half Monday night, the crowd started chanting, “Gregg fire.”
The U.S. next plays in September friendlies against Canada and New Zealand.
Uruguay played without coach Marcelo Biesla, suspended for sending the team out late for the second half of the first two games. Diego Reyes and Pablo Quiroga were in charge on a mild but humid night in Kansas City.
Berhalter and the Americans understand the difficult situation – Pulisic at one point said they will have to play “the best game of our lives” to advance – and they look like a team that won’t lose in the first half.
It is either marked by physical play and questionable calls.
Folarin Balogun, who already has two goals in the tournament, has had some challenges. He was left to call for help after colliding with Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, then was left rolling on the pitch after Araújo’s challenge at half-time. Balogun eventually had to leave with a hip pointer and Ricardo Pepi took his place.
Uruguay lost Maximilliano Araújo early in the half after a horror collision with Ream near the USA goal. He had to be carried off the field on a stretcher, although he was able to move his arms before going up the tunnel.
At the center of the chaos is 32-year-old Peruvian referee Kevin Ortega, whose series of questionable calls hurt the U.S.
The first came when Ortega began to pull a yellow card and stop play, then allowed to continue – while still holding the card – as Uruguay almost scored in the attack. The second came when the USA had a clear advantage after a handball against Uruguay, but the Peruvian referee finally blew his whistle and called again for a free kick.
Antonee Robinson called it an “amateur hour” but lamented the American’s failure to rise above the referee.
“The result is on us,” he said, “and we’re not good enough.”
Uruguay began to apply more pressure midway through the second half, then put the Americans in desperation mode after Olivera found the back of the net. And while the US had some good runs, and some good opportunities in the box, the team that had big expectations could not find the two goals it needed – or even one.
“I mean, now it’s just a little bit of rest and regrouping and finding our identity again, and we have big things,” Pulisic said. “We’ll look forward to that.”
