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Canada vs United States recommended bets
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Canada vs United States match preview
It’s time for the CONCACAF Nations League Final in Las Vegas, so will the U.S. retain their trophy, or can Canada end their long wait for silverware?
On Thursday night, both semi-finals were played in Paradise, Nevada, with Canada seeing off Panama first up.
Jonathan David broke the deadlock in the 25th minute, latching onto Kamal Miller’s inch-perfect through-ball before nut-megging the goalkeeper.
The 2-0 victory was then secured mid-way through the second half when, mere minutes after coming on as a substitute, Alphonso Davies lashed into the roof of the net from an acute angle.
So, this is les Rouges’ first appearance in a major final for 23 years, seeking to win just the team’s third major trophy, to add to 1985 CONCACAF Championship and the Gold Cup from the year 2000.
The United States meantime won the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League Finals in Denver two years ago and are on the cusp of repeating that feat.
Christian Pulisic broke the deadlock in the 37th minute, before firing home a second just 44 seconds after the restart from half time, connecting with Timothy Weah cross in the six-yard box.
So, while the U.S. supporters in attendance were celebrating another Dos a Cero, it got even better, when Sergiño Dest played in Ricardo Pepi who rounded the goalkeeper and completed the 3-0 rout.
The two sides both ended the night with nine men, with both Weston McKennie and Dest dismissed for the Stars and Stripes.
This could prove costly for B. J. Callaghan’s team in this final, but the interim to the interim is now just 90 minutes away from delivering yet more silverware for USA.
Canada have not beaten their neighbours to the south on American soil since 1957 but, during World Cup qualifying, they did earn a 1-1 draw in Tennessee, before a 2-0 victory in last year’s meeting in Hamilton.
So, this CONCACAF Nations League Final at Allegiant Stadium could go either-way, so who will be celebrating a major international trophy on the Las Vegas Strip?
Canada team news
Alphonso Davies was only fit enough to feature for half an hour on Thursday, butis hopeful of starting this final, which is a massive boost for John Herdman’s team.
He’ll join the front three, with Tajon Buchanan potentially shifting to wing-back and Richie Laryea missing out.
Cyle Larin and mid-week scorer Jonathan David are Canada’s top two goal-scorers of all time, so they’ll round-out a frightening attacking trio.
Captain Atiba Hutchinson came on in mid-week, earning a record-extending 104th senior cap.
Having left Beşiktaş, the 40 year old has intimated that he may retire this summer, so will he do so hoisting aloft a trophy, 20 years after his Canada debut.
The veteran will start this match from the bench with Stephen Eustáquio alongside Ismaël Koné, who wasn’t even born when Hutchinson made his debut for the Canucks.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Borjan; Johnston, Vitória, Miller; Buchanan, Eustáquio, Koné, Adekugbe; Davies, David, Larin.
United States team news
As mentioned, the U.S. will be without both Sergiño Dest and Weston McKennie following their red cards in the dismantling of el Tri.
Joe Scally of Borussia Mönchengladbach will slot in at right-back, although midfield could be more of an issue, given that captain Tyler Adams is out injured.
So, with no McKennie or Adams, Yunus Musah’s partner will be Luca de la Torre, for whom this’ll be a big night, with Gio Reyna once again deployed as a number ten.
Christian Pulisic’s brace on Thursday means only five USMNT players have scored more goals than he has.
Meanwhile, Folarin Balogun will once again lead the line, having become the first U.S. player since Juli Veee in 1976 to make their debut in a competitive fixtures against Mexico.
Chris Richards will once again get the nod as Miles Robinson’s centre-back partner, chosen over Walker Zimmerman.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Turner; Scally, M Robinson, Richards, A Robinson; Musah, de la Torre; Weah, Reyna, Pulisic; Balogun.
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