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United States Secure Semifinal Spot and Copa América 2024 Qualification Despite Loss
The match's dynamics changed dramatically when Dest received two yellow cards in quick succession, the first for kicking the ball away and the second for persistently arguing with the referee.
The United States soccer team advanced to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Nations League and secured their spot in the 2024 Copa América, despite a 2-1 defeat in the second leg of their quarterfinal match. Holding onto a significant lead from the first leg, where they triumphed 3-0, the U.S. team moved forward with a 4-2 aggregate score. The series proved tighter than the final score suggests, with the Americans benefiting greatly from their earlier convincing victory.
In the return match against Trinidad and Tobago, U.S. defender Antonee Robinson, who had previously contributed a goal and an assist, opened the scoring with a 25th-minute header, assisted by Serginho Dest. However, the match's dynamics changed dramatically when Dest received two yellow cards in quick succession, the first for kicking the ball away and the second for persistently arguing with the referee.
Reduced to ten men, the U.S. team faced a spirited comeback from Trinidad and Tobago, who scored through Reon Moore and Alvin Jones. Jones' striking direct free-kick from 28 meters out was a particular highlight, though U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner could have possibly done more to prevent it. This comeback put the U.S. under pressure, with Trinidad and Tobago missing two opportunities to potentially turn the game around.
Despite these challenges, the United States managed to defend their aggregate lead, achieving dual objectives: a spot in the Nations League semifinals and qualification for the Copa América. The day also brought news from CONMEBOL about the Copa América 2024, announcing that Miami and Atlanta will host the final and the opening match, respectively. The final will be held at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, which has a capacity of over 65,000, on July 14, 2024. Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, accommodating more than 71,000 spectators, will kick off the tournament on June 20.