USA and Mexico stars brawl on the pitch and fans hurl missiles in CONCACAF Nations League final

Chelsea star Christian Pulisic converted a penalty kick in the 114th minute to help the United States beat Mexico 3-2 amid dramatic and ill-tempered scenes in the final of the first CONCACAF Nations League. 

The two rival sides met at the home of the Colorado Rapids, Empower Field in Denver, and put on a captivating show that saw a series of on-pitch brawls break out between the players.

The game also included penalty drama, VAR disarray, streakers and disorderly fans throwing objects from the stands onto the pitch.     

Christian Pulisic (above) converted a penalty kick in the 114th minute to win the game 

There were several altercations during the 90 minutes, with a total of eight yellow cards being handed out. 

The tone of the international fixture was set by Weston McKennie and Hector Herrera. 

Atletico Madrid midfielder Herrera grabbed the throat of Juventus star McKennie, forcing the referee to turn to his cards. 

However, there were several moments that led to on-pitch brawls between the players

There were several altercations during the game, with eight yellow cards being handed out

The drama was far from over following Herrera’s yellow card as VAR awarded Mexico a penalty in the dying minutes of the game after a header hit the arm of McKennie.

US substitute goalkeeper and Colorado native Ethan Horvath saved Andres Guardado’s penalty in extra time – causing another brawl to break out.   

Hirving Lozano was seen running over to shove DeAndre Yedlin in front of 37,648 fans at Empower Field at Mile High. 

The act resulted in mass pushing between the players and saw the fans hurl cups from the stands onto the pitch.  

Angry Team Mexico fans begin throwing cups and bottles at Team USA after Christian Pulisic netted the go-ahead goal on a penalty kick in extra time 

Team USA’s Giovanni Reyna was hit in the face with an object while celebrating teammate Christian Pulisic’s go-ahead goal in the 109th minute. Reyna, who scored Team USA’s first goal, was examined on the field before being helped off by trainers.

Team USA looks up into the crowd amid a cascade of empty cups and bottles 

Boss Gregg Berhalter was left furious, and midfielder Gio Reyna was injured by one of the bottles flying from the stands.  

‘Total lack of respect for what’s happening on the field and all effort that both teams are putting into the game,’ the raging Berhalter said. ‘I think he’s going to be OK, but he did take something to the head, and it could have been a lot worse.’  

US full back Sergino Dest was among the players screaming at the stands for fans to stop throwing objects but his pleas were largely ignored. 

In addition, the game became the second of the tournament to be paused because of anti-gay chants from Mexican fans.

The game became the second of the tournament to be paused because of anti-gay chants from Mexican fans

Messages across the board remind fans to stay civil during the first half of the championship game at the Concacaf Nations League Finals at Empower Field at Mile High

The match was briefly stopped in extra time as players from both teams pleaded with fans to stop. Mexico’s semifinal win over Costa Rica was also paused over the same chant, which originated at the club level but has been adopted by fans of the national team, according to multiple reports from the country. 

Had the chants continued, officials had the option of sending players to the locker rooms, and could have either suspended or abandoned the match as well. 

Despite the dramatic fashion in which they won, US were delighted with the victory as it marked their first trophy since the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

It also capped off an incredible year for the US as 10 players from Berhalter’s side had also won titles with their respective clubs.