Folarin Balogun scored his first goal for the United States as they clinched the CONCACAF Nations League with a 2-0 win over Canada at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.
Arsenal striker, Folarin Balogun just added another feather to his cap as he scored his first goal for the United States in their 2-0 win against Canada. This victory saw the US clinch the CONCACAF Nations League at the Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.
The US have won both of the Nations League tournaments held in the CONCACAF region and will now look for a regional double in the Gold Cup later this month.
The United States is setting the pace in the CONCACAF region as they have won the Nations League tournament twice, and are now set to claim a regional double in the upcoming Gold Cup.
- Fantastic performance from Richards and Balogun
- Balogun is set for a promising future with the U.S national team
- Great team performance by the US national team
- Disappointing night for Canada
Both goals in the match were created by midfielder Gio Reyna, but the show was stolen by two other players; Chris Richards and Folarin Balogun. Richards scored the first goal of the match in the 12th minute when he headed the ball in after Reyna made a perfect corner kick. Balogun scored the second goal of the match, his first goal for the US team, just before half-time, thanks to another beautiful pass from Reyna.
Folarin Balogun has found a home with the US National team, and has synced perfectly with his team-mates in a short time. The New York-born striker was part of England’s Under-21 team before he made the switch to the United States in May this year. His excellent performance in this tournament indicates that he is a valuable addition to the team and will be an integral part of the American squad heading into the 2026 World Cup.
The US national team put up an incredible team performance despite being hit with the absence of their first-choice midfielders, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie. Despite their midfield being weakened, they were dominant for large stretches of the game. The captain, Christian Pulisic, commended the team’s fighting spirit and expressed hope that they will maintain it during tougher games in the Copa America, World Cup, amongst others.
Although it’s been 23 years since Canada has lifted a trophy, their fans were hopeful of a good performance in the finals. However, the team gave few opportunities to the US team, with the best chance going to Cyle Larin in the 67th minute. But after his drive was blocked, he put his second attempt high over the bar. Alphonso Davies, the Bayern Munich winger, who is a danger man for Canada, was kept quiet for much of the game with the US doubling up their marking on him.
In conclusion, this victory is an impressive feat for the United States, and they will undoubtedly be a force to reckon with in the upcoming tournaments. Congratulations to them!
