Raised in England, played in Arsenal’s academy, Foralin Balogun You know something about football’s passionate rivalries.

But even that background is unlikely to have prepared him for what he went through when he unveiled his work on Thursday. american national team debuted in 3-0 win over Mexico and CONCACAF Nations League The semi-final ended with both teams missing multiple players with red cards.

The win was the USA’s most one-sided win against Mexico in CONCACAF, extending the USMNT’s unbeaten record over El Tri to six games and qualifying for Sunday’s championship game against Canada. . Canada beat Panama 2-0 in the first inning. Goals from Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies made it to the semi-finals.

The match also gave Balogun a baptism of rivalry that was more like a border war over a 110-yard grass field than a match. It’s more national pride than trophies, more culture than competition.

“The players were saying it was going to be a hard game, and I think that’s a bit of an understatement,” Balogun said. “The atmosphere was crazy.

“The players don’t seem to be surprised by that, so I have no choice but to follow the reaction. But for me it was clearly different. I’m not very used to that kind of refereeing and pitching. I’m adapting. there are so many things.”

This is clearly a rivalry you have to go through to understand, with Mexico’s Cesar Montes failing to slow Balogun and swinging his right foot into the American’s shin, knocking him down with a cheap shot. That’s what Balogun learned at the end of a very volatile second half when he did. He was shown a red card, leading to a hard push in midfield. Coming out of the scrum in a torn shirt, US midfielder Weston McKennie taunted the Mexican fans by kissing the crest on his jersey repeatedly.

He himself was sent off with a red card.

Further strife in the closing minutes resulted in the sending off of United States defender Serginho Dest and Mexico international Gerardo Arteaga.

Minutes later, the match was stopped again after frustrated Mexican supporters ignored warnings to stop their anti-gay slurs, with El Salvador’s referee Ivan Burton first suspending play, and with five minutes left in stoppage time it was an ugly spectacle. finished the whole thing.

Two red cards mean defending Nations Cup champions USA will be without two starters in Sunday’s final, captain something Christian Pulisic I felt it could have been avoided.

“All year long I’ve never been in a match like this. And then coming here, all of a sudden it’s a mess,” said Pulisic, who scored the first two goals. “It’s gone from this beautiful game that we love. You won that game, you had a dominating performance, and now this is happening and it takes it all away. I did.”

Balogun was a sharp-shooting striker long absent from the national team and could have played internationally in England, the United States and Nigeria.

But just a month ago, the 21-year-old decided to risk his fate with the USA national team, becoming the most important dual player in more than a decade when he made the decision.

Targeted by both the American winger and Mexico’s physical defender from Thursday’s start, Balogun could barely see the ball. But his presence paved the way for Pulisic, who made 59 appearances for the United States national team, making him the most experienced player in the American lineup.

Pulisic nearly made the squad in 23 games^rd In the first minute, Mexico keeper Guillermo Ochoa was lured from the line and a right-footed chip shot went wide of the net. Another opportunity came 14 minutes later, this time picking up Karom for a pass to Balogun, dribbling through the crowded penalty area and Ochoa putting his left-footed shot into goal and into the far post.

Pulisic doubled the lead with a break goal in the first minute of the second half. Timothy Weah outplayed Mexican defender Victor Guzman on the right and slid in with a perfect right-footed cross into the center of the box. Pulisic sent the ball with his left foot.

Ricardo Pepi, another dual citizen, played for Balogun in the 1975 season.^th He scored a minute later, becoming the only Mexican to score on the night.

The U.S. is also close to re-signing a veteran coach the same night it unveiled its new squad, with Athletic and other news outlets signing a deal to bring back Greg Verhalter, whose contract expired after the World Cup last fall. is reported to have been finalized. cup.

The Athletic said the deal had not yet been finalized but an announcement was “imminent”.

The 49-year-old Verhalter, who led his team to the Nations League and Gold Cup titles in 2021, has the highest winning percentage of any American manager who has managed more than two games.

Berhalter saw Gio Reina’s return as a coach delayed after his parents told US Soccer about a domestic violence incident 30 years ago involving the coach and his future wife. Mr. Verhalter was acquitted of any wrongdoing after a two-month investigation.

“I’ve been supporting him all this time,” said Pulisic, a vociferous Berhalter fan.

“Today is a testament to the work he put into this team.”