The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team qualified for the 2024 Copa America despite losing to Trinidad and Tobago on Monday night. The defeat didn’t stop them from advancing, but the game was marred by a red card for Sergiño Dest in bizarre circumstances.
Dest received two yellow cards within a minute, leading to his sending off from the game. He was first booked for kicking the ball away, then received another yellow card for gesturing and blowing a kiss to the referee. His actions left his teammates and coach visibly frustrated.
This was a disappointing turn for the U.S. team, as they held an early lead and seemed in control before Dest’s red card. They were also upset by a familiar 2-1 scoreline, similar to the one that knocked them out of the 2018 World Cup. Despite these setbacks, they secured their spot in the Copa America and advanced to the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals in March.
Former USMNT star DaMarcus Beasley expressed his disappointment and called Dest’s behavior “unacceptable.” Team coach Gregg Berhalter also addressed the incident, emphasizing that they will hold Dest accountable for his actions.
The U.S. ‘A’ team’s next fixture won’t be until March for the Nations League semifinal, while the January camp for MLS-based players has not yet been announced.
Overall, the U.S. team experienced a mixture of frustration and triumph in the game against Trinidad and Tobago, but their qualification for the Copa America and upcoming matches provide new opportunities for the team to move forward.