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Canada scores stunning upset, beats U.S. for 1st time since 1985

Rick Madonik / Toronto Star / Getty

Canada's rebuild now has a signature moment.

The Canadian men's soccer team secured a frenetic 2-0 win over the United States in Nations League action Tuesday, ending a 17-match drought with the first victory over its southern neighbor since 1985.

Alphonso Davies, the poster boy for the Canadian program's recent rejuvenation, was the fitting scorer of the game's opening tally, bundling the ball over the line in the 63rd minute after a scrappy sequence that epitomized proceedings at Toronto's BMO Field:

Prior to the Bayern Munich teenager's scruffy effort, Canada had scored just once in its previous 11 encounters against the perennial CONCACAF powerhouse. Eight of those matches ended in defeat, with three goalless draws sprinkled in.

Even before Davies' goal, though, it felt like this would be a famous night for the host nation. The Americans, still struggling to adapt to manager Gregg Berhalter's system and tactics, looked frazzled and disinterested; they struggled to string passes together, rarely threatening Milan Borjan in the Canadian goal.

"Hopefully we start getting better and start winning games on the road," Berhalter told reporters after the match. "Tonight wasn't the night. We didn't match their emotion."

Christian Pulisic, who had his side's best chance, was hauled off after an hour due to flu-like symptoms. His substitution effectively ended the USMNT's hopes of troubling a Canadian backline that looked vulnerable at times.

Davies opened the scoring shortly thereafter, capitalizing on a sloppy mistake from Tim Ream. Lucas Cavallini secured the memorable result for John Herdman's team in the waning seconds, emphatically racking up his 11th international goal.

After outshooting the U.S. and creating more clear-cut chances to secure the win, Canada now sits atop its CONCACAF Nations League group with nine points from three matches.

The upset loss leaves the U.S. with three points from its two games - and a boatload of questions with which Berhalter must now grapple.

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