5 things we learned from USMNT vs. Canada

Gyasi Zardes did enough, and Gregg Berhalter gets a sigh of relief, but there are still questions after the USA's 4-1 win over Canada.

The USMNT actually went and took care of business against Canada on Friday night, winning their CONCACAF Nations League match 4-1 in Orlando.

Gyasi Zardes bagged a brace, with Jordan Morris and Aaron Long each grabbing a goal for the USMNT. Canada’s Steven Vitoria got a consolation goal in the second half off a corner kick, but it wasn’t enough.

It was a much needed win for a USMNT that embarrassingly lost to the Canadians just a few weeks ago in a friendly, a match that had people (including me!) grumbling that USA coach Gregg Berhalter wasn’t the right man for the job.

Do I still feel that way? Yep! Sure do. But this was a good result for Berhalter and will calm things down with a grumpy American fanbase.

Here are five things we learned, with some highlights tossed in for good measure.

1. USA didn’t embarrass themselves

This is the biggest takeaway from the game, and what will keep Gregg Berhalter’s seat from getting too hot in the near future. The Americans came out and competed early, going at the Canadians with energy and bagging a quick goal in the second minute when Jordan Morris capitalized on a ragged little set piece play that somehow worked.

The USMNT didn’t look … great, exactly, but they played well enough to take advantage of their chances. They got two goals off set pieces, which is what good USMNT squads have done in the past. Here’s the other set piece goal from Long.

Basically: They won, and they really needed to win. Sometimes analysis doesn’t get much more complicated than that.

2. Gyasi Zardes did enough to stay in the conversation

Zardes scored two goals, ran the lines well, and looked tough to deal with for the USMNT. For right now, it’s clear he’s doing what Berhalter wants from his striker.

Watching him take rough touches can be frustrating, especially for people who want to see what Josh Sargent can do, but Zardes understands Berhalter’s system.

Zardes runs all day, and gets in good spots. He took his chances on Friday. It ain’t always pretty, but if that’s what Berhalter wants, we’re going to have to wait to see Sargent.

3. Sergiño Dest is SAUCY

Dest became cap-tied to the United States with the game last night, which might be the most important thing that happened. The young Ajax right back was dazzling for much of the game, going at Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies time and time again.

It was awesome.

Davies was similarly fantastic, and he and Dest looked like they were playing an entirely different game from the other 20 guys on the field. They’re both 19 years old (born just a day apart, weirdly!) and already look heads and shoulders ahead of everyone else in this game. Watching these two go at each other for the next decade plus is going to be so fun.

4. Weston McKennie should be better

This wasn’t McKennie’s best game for the USMNT. This wasn’t even close to his best game. He was fine, but for someone I expect to see at the level of Dest/Davies, he didn’t do enough.

This could be tactical — Berhalter may have given him a command to hang in the midfield and shore things up (probably smart given how overrun the USMNT has been in midfield at times), but he wasn’t able to get forward and put his mark on the game.

5. We need to see the full team

It’s so hard for me to judge anything about this side because I haven’t seen our top team out there yet. I want to see what McKennie can create when he’s paired with Tyler Adams, and what our attack can look like with Pulisic and Morris running off the striker.

The most important thing about the addition of Dest is it might force Berhalter to drop this whole ridiculous Tyler Adams as hybrid RB-CM thing he seemed hellbent on implementing, and just play the best center midfield we have. Jackson Yueill showed us on Friday he isn’t the answer. Wil Trapp has showed us that already. Michael Bradley is on the tail end of his career.

When Adams is healthy, I want to see what this team can do.