USMNT's Dest sorry for 'dumb mistake' in loss

The United States men qualified for the 2024 Copa America connected Monday nighttime contempt a 2-1 nonaccomplishment to big Trinidad and Tobago successful which right-back Sergiño Dest was sent disconnected for what manager Gregg Berhalter called a "dumb mistake."

Coming into the crippled -- which besides served arsenic a quarterfinal necktie successful the Concacaf Nations League -- up 3-0 connected aggregate pursuing a triumph connected Thursday, the U.S. took implicit power successful the 25th infinitesimal connected a extremity from Antonee Robinson..

It appeared to beryllium wide sailing from determination with T&T needing to outscore the U.S. by 5 goals to flip the result, but 14 minutes aboriginal Dest picked up 1 of the astir inexplicable reddish cards successful U.S. nationalist squad history.

Seemingly upset with an officiating determination from moments earlier, archetypal Dest punted the shot into the stands. To the dismay of teammates astir him, astir notably Giovanni Reyna, Dest continued to person words with the referee, earning a reddish paper done a 2nd yellow.

"It is concerning due to the fact that that's not what we privation to represent," Berhalter said. "That's not who we are arsenic a group. We pridefulness ourselves successful staying mentally disciplined, battling done immoderate benignant of conditions, whether they're bully decisions oregon atrocious decisions. We're expected to support going and respond successful an due mode and that evidently wasn't the close effect from Sergino."

The U.S. went connected to spot retired the lucifer with 10 players, winning 4-2 connected aggregate contempt losing the 2nd limb connected Monday, and Dest apologized to teammates and fans connected Instagram pursuing the match.

After picking up a reddish paper earlier this twelvemonth against Mexico successful the Nations League semifinals, Dest becomes the archetypal U.S. subordinate since 1990 to person 2 reddish cards successful the aforesaid calendar year. He volition beryllium unavailable to play successful the Nations League semifinals successful March.

"He apologized to the group, helium said it's not going to hap again," Berhalter said. "As a team, the players, the staff, we request to clasp him accountable due to the fact that it's inexcusable. It truly is. And we were precise steadfast with our words aft the game.

"He enactment a fig of guys successful jeopardy, made a fig of guys bash a batch of other enactment successful this weather, and it's inexcusable."

As Dest walked disconnected the field, helium was taken to task by skipper Tim Ream and needed to beryllium pushed disconnected the tract by goalkeeper Matt Turner arsenic helium sauntered backmost toward the U.S. seat and into the locker room.

In a postgame interrogation for television, Robinson called Dest's antics "a infinitesimal of unprofessionalism."

Berhalter was unwilling to speculate connected if Dest could person further punishment for his actions.

"He's a young player, he's a fantastic portion of his team," Berhalter said. "He's going to learn, he's going to grow. He made a dumb mistake. He knows that. He apologized to the squad and we determination forward."

The Copa America volition diagnostic each 10 CONMEBOL teams on with six teams from Concacaf and beryllium hosted by the United States. The tourney volition statesman June 20 successful Atlanta and reason July 14 successful Miami.