USA Defender Sergino Dest Faces Criticism After Receiving Two Yellow Cards in 30 Seconds
USA star Sergino Dest has come under fire from his teammates after being shown two yellow cards in less than 30 seconds during the team’s CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Trinidad and Tobago. The 23-year-old defender was sent off for his actions, although USA managed to secure a 4-2 aggregate victory despite losing the match 2-1.
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Dest’s troubles began when he held onto the ball and kicked it away in disagreement over a throw-in. Referee Walter Lopez showed him a yellow card for his actions, but Dest continued to argue and was shown a second yellow card. As he left the field, he blew a kiss in the direction of the referee.
Teammates Express Displeasure
Dest’s teammates, including Tim Ream and Matt Turner, were visibly furious with his actions. Ream approached Dest and could be seen yelling at him. Post-match, Ream revealed that there were heated exchanges between the players at halftime.
“Not too many things I can say here publicly that we said privately,” Ream said. “It’s a complete lack of respect for the guys that are playing, for the guys that are on the bench. It’s a lack of respect for the game itself, for the referees.”
Coach Berhalter’s Response
USA coach Gregg Berhalter also expressed his disappointment with Dest’s behavior. He called it “inexcusable” and stated that it was not representative of the team’s values. Berhalter emphasized the importance of mental discipline and appropriate responses to decisions, regardless of their quality. Dest apologized to the team and pledged that such incidents would not happen again.
Despite the loss, USA advanced to the Nations League semi-finals with a 4-2 aggregate victory. Antonee Robinson scored the opening goal for USA, but Trinidad and Tobago equalized before securing the win. Dest will be suspended for the semi-final match in March due to his red card.