Dale Johnson explains why Uruguay’s goal allowed them to face the USMNT in the Copa America. (1:21)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — U. S. captain Christian Pulisic made it clear he didn’t think the referee was to blame for his team’s exit from the Copa America stage, but he was baffled by the decisions made in Monday’s 1-0 loss to Uruguay. at Arrowhead Stadium, a result that sealed the fate of the Americans.
“Honestly, I saw things today that I’ve never noticed before, right in front of my eyes, and I really can’t,” Pulisic told reporters. “We didn’t lose because of that; We are not out of this tournament because of the refereeing.
“But actually, I just saw things that. . . I mean, I think everyone can admit that I don’t know what I’m looking for. I don’t know what they call it. I don’t know how I’m looking. I don’t know what they’re calling. I don’t know what they’re calling things that I just can’t accept. “
Referee Kevin Ortega was seen on camera refusing to shake Pulisic’s hand after the final whistle after Pulisic appeared to make a first gesture at him from afar.
“He didn’t shake my hand. That’s general, I mean, I guess. “
Uruguayan defender Mathías Olivera scored the only goal of the match in the 66th minute. Olivera gave the impression of being in an offside position when he threw the ball, but a lengthy VAR review proved the goal without sending Ortega to the video monitor. Replays showed an imperceptible overlap between Olivera’s frame and the foot of USMNT defender Chris Richards, who deliberately kept the Uruguayan out.
“It’s crazy, Array,” USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter said of the call. “I don’t understand it. You know, I feel like I know the rule pretty well. I feel like we had shots that show how the rule can be interpreted and it’s an offside purpose. “It’s disappointing, it is, but you know, It happens in the football and obviously we have to live with it.
There were several arguable non-appeals in Monday’s game, but the strangest moment came in the 32nd minute, when Ortega pulled out a yellow card to hand to Richards. Uruguay went to play the free kick temporarily and, before fully extending his arm to raise the yellow card, Ortega raised his other arm to signal “play. ” Nahitan Nández was behind the goal but missed his shot.
Play is stopped when a yellow card is shown so that the referee can record the warning. Several U. S. players argued with Ortega after the match. Adams said after the game that it was “the first time I’d seen” an incident like that.
The 1-0 loss, combined with Panama’s 3-1 victory over Bolivia in a simultaneous match, left the USMNT third in the organization. This is the first time that the United States has failed to advance from the level of organization of a Copa América, Gold Cup or World Cup played at home. The United States will co-host the 2026 World Cup.