USA survive Nations League scare as Dest antics grab headlines 📝 | OneFootball

The United States Men’s National Team avoided a big scare to reach the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals on Monday.

Scorers: Moore 43′, Jones 57′; Robinson 25′

It was not a walk in the park for the USA during their trip to Trinidad and Tobago and Gregg Berhalter will surely have plenty to say afterward – particularly to Sergiño Dest.

The visitors scored three goals after the 80-minute mark to win the first leg and while Antonee Robinson’s diving header tonight made it 4-0 on aggregate, drama kept this one interesting.

Dest was sent off after he angrily kicked the ball into the stands unimpressed with a refereeing decision. And despite Gio Reyna, Tim Ream and Matt Turner all yelling at their team-mate to stop arguing with the call, the referee had enough of his behaviour and sent him off.

Going a man down piled pressure on the USA in a game which they largely dominated confidence-wise. The hosts then took full advantage to try and pull off a huge upset.

Trinidad equalised within minutes of Dest being sent off as Reon Moore beat Turner at his near post and coming out into the second half the momentum of the game was in their favour.

A thumping free-kick from Alvin Jones combined with a howler from Turner then turned things around completely.

The match winner was the first direct free-kick the USA have conceded in a competitive match since Lionel Messi at the Copa América Centenario in 2016.

Despite the shock loss, the three late goals in the first leg proved to be extremely valuable as the USA moved on to the semi-finals in March which Dest will miss.

Road trips continue to be a tough test as well, with the USA winning only two of their 16 away matches against Concacaf teams dating back to 2016 (seven draws, seven losses).