KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Goalkeeper Matt Turner is in the starting lineup for the United States‘ crucial 2024 Copa América group-stage finale on Monday against Uruguay at Arrowhead Stadium.
Turner had participated only in limited training on Saturday and Sunday and was questionable for Monday’s match following an injury sustained in the USMNT’s 2-1 loss to Panama on Thursday.
USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter’s only change to the lineup that lost to Panama on Thursday is Yunus Musah in the midfield in place of the suspended Timothy Weah. Musah’s inclusion in midfield likely pushes Giovanni Reyna into a wide role after playing centrally in the team’s first two matches.
Weah was sent off in the 18th minute after video review for a jab to the back of the head of Panama defender Roderick Miller in an incident away from the ball. CONMEBOL announced on Saturday that Weah was handed an additional game suspension for the incident, meaning he will also miss the Copa America quarterfinal if the Americans advance.
Turner injured his leg in a collision early in Thursday’s loss, but he continued playing through the first half, conceding an equalizer right after Folarin Balogun gave the 10-man USMNT the lead.
He was replaced at halftime by Ethan Horvath.
The U.S. likely needs to win its game against Uruguay and hope that Panama does not beat Bolívia and overturn its negative goal difference to the Americans if it is to advance. There are other scenarios that could see the U.S. make it to the quarterfinals, but those would depend on Panama losing or drawing with Bolivia, one of the weakest teams in South America.
The U.S. currently has a plus-two goal difference over Panama. Goal difference is the first tiebreaker, followed by goals scored and red cards.
The USMNT is aiming to avoid an early exit on home soil in its biggest test ahead of the 2026 World Cup — which it is co-hosting.
Uruguay, which will advance with a draw and likely still advance even with a loss, rolled out an unchanged starting lineup from the team that defeated Bolivia 5-0 on Thursday.
There is one change on the sideline for Uruguay: head coach Marcelo Bielsa is suspended for Monday’s match because Uruguay was late to enter the pitch for the second half against Bolivia. CONMEBOL is cracking down on the infraction, and regulations stipulate that coaches must serve a one-game suspension for a team’s second infraction. Uruguay received a warning earlier in the tournament.
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#Matt #Turner #starts #USA #goal #Yunus #Musah #Tim #Weah