US coach criticises officials for three key calls in Gold Cup final

HOUSTON (AP):

United States coach Mauricio Pochettino faulted match officials for three key calls in the Americans' 2-1 Concacaf Gold Cup final loss to Mexico on Sunday night, saying they wouldn't allow a video review to deny an El Tri goal for the third time in the tournament.

Pochettino felt his team should have been awarded a penalty kick for a hand ball by Jorge Sanchez in the 67th minute. He also said Diego Luna should not have been whistled for the foul leading to the free kick that set up Edson Alvarez's tiebreaking goal in the 77th minute and that the original decision ruling Alvarez offside should have been upheld.

Pochettino said if similar calls went against Mexico, "it would be a fire on the stadium. But for us, it's like, OK, they are nice guys. They're nice guys. It's not a problem."

After the goal initially was disallowed by an offside flag, the decision was reversed by the VAR and Mexico went on to win their 10th Gold Cup title.

Defender Chris Richards, who put the US ahead in the fourth minute, faulted the officials assigned to games by Concacaf , the governing body of North and Central America and the Caribbean. He compared Sanchez's action to those of retired NBA star Shaquille O'Neal. Richards felt defender Cesar Montes should have been called for a foul for blocking him on the free kick

"I think the thing about Concacaf is that we're always one step behind with the referee," Richards said. "Palmed the ball like Shaq in the box, and then on the other end we had a block that was offside. Any other week it would be called offside. But, again, that's Concacaf for you. They hate us and we just have to keep moving with it."

Sanchez fell in his own penalty area in the 67th minute after colliding with Max Arfsten, and Sanchez pushed down on the ball with his left hand as he tried to balance himself. Guatemalan referee Mario Escobar let play continue.

"I'm not going to cry. I wanted to tell the truth," Pochettino said, "and the truth was that if that happened in the opposite half, in the other box, for sure it's a penalty."

"You say silly penalty, silly penalty," Pochettino told reporters. "It's like plenty of penalties that are so silly. Silly, yes. The player was with the knee on the floor. He pushed the hand over the ball. It's not that the hand was on the floor and the ball touched. OK, all the excuses now, but that was (a) penalty and maybe 2-1 for us and maybe we now are celebrating the trophy."

"I think that is clear and it's not about to cry. It's not about the complain. It's not about to put excuses in the different things but I think we can continue talking," Pochettino added. "For me it was embarrassing to see that situation and it's a shame."