USA beat Mexico for third straight Nations League title

ARLINGTON, Texas, USA (AP):

Tyler Adams with a wide smile, stood on the field cradling two-month-old son Jax. The 25-year-old midfielder had just scored the goal of his life, propelling the United States of America (USA) to a 2-0 win over Mexico on Sunday and the Americans' third straight Concacaf Nations League title.

"People have a lot of question marks about this, about that, but to see what we do week in, week out when we have the opportunity to work together, we continue to grow," Adams said.

Adams scored from about 35 yards in his first start in more than a year for club or country, putting the USA ahead in the 45th minute when he received a pass from Weston McKennie, took a touch and curled a shot that just eluded the right hand of diving goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

Limited to one league start this season for Borussia Dortmund and Nottingham Forest, Giovanni Reyna scored his eighth international goal in the 63rd minute. Defender Johan Vasquez blocked Christian Pulisic's cross. The ball deflected off American forward Haji Wright back to Vasquez, who headed a clearance attempt. Reyna let the ball bounce and beat Ochoa to the near post from 16 yards.

USA's coach Gregg Berhalter motivated his players earlier in the week to win their third straight title with the example of Michael Jordan and the 1991-93 Chicago Bulls.

"The Jordan slide, when he's holding up the three fingers with the trophy," Berhalter said, "we photoshopped the Nations League trophy into the same picture with Michael Jordan."

After June exhibitions against Colombia and Brazil, the USA face Bolivia, Panama and Uruguay in the group stage of the Copa America, where six teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean are guests.

"It's good for momentum," Reyna said. "We've been together with our core group for a while now, and I think we know what it takes to win big games and tournaments and hopefully we can carry that in Copa America and have a great run there."

Reyna was picked as the top player and Matt Turner as the best goalkeeper.