USA and Canada Players Clash in Tunnel, Matt Turner Forced to Play Peacemaker
Tensions boiled over between the USA and Canadian football teams following their Gold Cup quarter-final match on Sunday night. After a thrilling 2-2 draw, the match went to penalties, which the USMNT won 3-2 thanks to the heroics of Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner. However, it appears that Turner was also forced into the role of peacekeeper as the players engaged in a mass brawl in the tunnel shortly after the full-time whistle, footage of which only emerged on Monday.
What Caused the Confrontation?
According to Marca, the Americans taunted their rivals as they headed down the tunnel after what was a rather ill-tempered match with six yellow cards handed out by the referee. In a clip shared by TUDN USA, calm quickly turned into chaos as players made their way to the dressing rooms, though it is not clear what was said to trigger the confrontation. Among the ruckus, Turner arrived on the scene and attempted to separate the two groups of players with the help of security.
USMNT Set to Face Panama in Semifinals
The USA are set to play Panama in the semi-finals on Thursday and if victorious will face either Jamaica or Mexico in the final in California next Monday. Turner, who is captaining his country in the absence of Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, saved two penalties in the shootout and has gained a good reputation for keeping out spot-kicks.
“I just trusted my instincts, really, and typically when I do that, I find myself having a lot more success,” said Turner.
Conclusion
The USA and Canada teams have been involved in a heated rivalry for years, and it appears that tensions boiled over after their Gold Cup quarter-final match on Sunday night. While it is unclear what sparked the confrontation, it was Matt Turner who stepped in to play peacemaker and help separate the two sides. The USMNT are set to face Panama in the semi-finals on Thursday and will be hoping to make it to the final in California next Monday.