It was not pretty, and it will not be remembered as a classic, but the United States have now won all four games of this international window. A single first-half goal from Justin Ellis was enough to beat Canada 1-0 at Allianz Field in St. Paul on Wednesday, in a rivalry fixture that spent more time stopping and starting than flowing.
Ellis finishes the one clean move of the night
The goal arrived in the 29th minute and it was the simplest thing the hosts did all evening. Alex Freeman delivered the cross, and Ellis was there to turn it in. BBC Sport's match data credits Freeman with the assist and Ellis with the finish, his second goal of the window. What made it a little more striking was the state he was in. Ellis had taken a hard foul midway through the first half, stayed down for a while, and returned looking far from fully fit. He stuck around, took his chance when it came, and the Americans had the lead they would never relinquish.
A scrappy game and a lot of fouls
If the scoreline looks tidy, the match itself was anything but. The USMNT committed 13 fouls in the first half alone, the most in a single half since a 2012 World Cup qualifier against Guatemala, and referee Steven Madrigal's handling of the contact left both benches unsure where the line sat. The attack was stagnant for long stretches, with only five shots all night against Canada's seven. Canada also had three shots on target to the hosts' one, and Luc De Fougerolles dragged a late effort from the middle of the box just wide of the post, so the clean sheet was earned rather than gifted.
Brian Schwake played all 90 minutes in goal on his first start and stayed unbeaten, while Freeman largely shut down Canada's Jacob Shaffelburg on top of setting up the goal. Possession was almost even, 51.2 per cent to 48.8, which tells you how little either side managed to impose itself.
Debuts, experiments and what it means for Pochettino
This window has been about looking at new faces, and the evidence is in the numbers. Cole Campbell came on 61 minutes in to make his debut, the 13th and final uncapped player Mauricio Pochettino has used across these games. Brooklyn Raines, 21, started in midfield and 17-year-old Mathis Albert played in attack alongside Ellis. Yunus Musah lasted around 45 minutes, mostly out wide, and looked uncomfortable there before completing 8 of 11 passes.
Four wins from four is a perfectly respectable record for a window used to test depth, and it sends the squad into the next camp with some momentum. The harder question is whether an attack this blunt can cause problems for sides with more to offer than Canada did. For one night, though, Ellis, Freeman and a clean sheet were enough.
Match facts: United States 1-0 Canada, international friendly, Allianz Field, St. Paul, Wednesday 7 October 2026. Goal: Justin Ellis (29 mins, assist Alex Freeman). Half-time 1-0. Possession 51.2% / 48.8%; shots 5 / 7; shots on target 1 / 3. Debut: Cole Campbell (61 mins).
0 Comments