Matt Freese and the USMNT falls in Gold Cup finals to Mexico | OneFootball

On Sunday evening, the United States men's national team played in the finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. New York City FC's Matt Freese, as he has been in every game this tournament, was in goal.

Entering this match, the USMNT had a mountain to climb against a talented Mexico side. This was not a team fans were used to seeing, but even when it was not pretty, they got the job done. It did not matter whether it was via the penalty kick shootout against Costa Rica in the quarterfinals or the tight win against Guatemala in the semifinals. They did what they had to do to get here, and Freese was a part of this journey.

Of course, it did not end the way fans wanted it to. The Stars and Stripes lost 2-1. Chris Richards scored early for the team, but they could not find another in the end.

USMNT loses but Matt Freese will be back to NYCFC

Throughout the final, Mexico dominated in possession and outshot the USMNT 16 to six. Arguably, the quality from El Tri was higher, but the Stars and Stripes shined defensively. The clearances and interventions from the backline helped Freese, but he also had six saves. Yes, Mexico scored twice. However, they were brilliant goals that no other US keeper would have saved.

Regardless of the result, NYCFC fans can be happy that Freese is coming home. While Tomás Romero did a good job in his absence, having the starter back will make a difference, especially when the Bronx side heads out on their road trip. He is at another level and arguably is a good leader within the team.

Fans can also be proud of Freese. Yes, he had a mistake here and there. But the NYCFC player had to have done enough to receive future call-ups with the USMNT. Plus, who will forget his heroics against Costa Rica, when he made three saves in the penalty kick shootout? That is a moment that will be remembered for years.

Freese is coming home, though, just in time for the start of a busy summer schedule. Hopefully, this will be an experience he will never forget, and he can be proud of the work he did, and improve for the future for both the USMNT and NYCFC. It stinks he did not get to lift a trophy, but the keeper can head home with his head held high.