On Sunday at Allegiant Stadium, Folarin Balogun scored his first goal for the United States as they defeated Canada 2-0 to win the CONCACAF Nations League. This victory secured the United States’ spot in the tournament.
After Chris Richards had put the United States on front with a header in the 12th minute, Arsenal striker Balogun scored the second goal for his new country, the United States, in only his second appearance after transferring his national team allegiance from England to the United States.
The United States of America have triumphed in both of the CONCACAF-hosted Nations League competitions, and they will now attempt to complete a regional double when they compete in the Gold Cup later this month.
Gio Reyna, a midfielder for the team, was implicated in the off-field sagas that surrounded head coach Gregg Berhalter, who was re-appointed on Friday. Reyna was a player who found himself entangled in the sagas surrounding Berhalter. Both goals were produced by Reyna.
Richards, who had arrived at the back post with little careful attention from the Canadian defense, directed the wonderfully floating corner kick that Reyna had taken with a solid header inside the goal.
The midfielder for Borussia Dortmund then helped set up Balogun’s first goal for his new squad by bursting out of midfield and sliding the ball past the defense and into the path of the striker, who confidently drove it home. This was Balogun’s first goal for his new team.
Balogun spent the 2016–2017 campaign on loan from Arsenal to Reims of the French Ligue 1 club, where he amassed a total of 21 goals.
The forward was born in New York but his family relocated to England when he was only two years old. He was a member of the England Under-21 squad before making the move to the United States in May.
He made his debut in the United States national team’s 3-0 victory against Mexico in the semi-final match, and on Sunday in the championship game, he established a solid understanding with wingers Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic in what is now looking like a very potential front line for the United States.
The United States squad, which was being coached by B.J. Callaghan in an interim capacity until Berhalter’s return to the club, did not provide many chances for the Canadian team, which has not won a title in the last 23 years.