The United States are out of Copa América 2024 after a 1-0 defeat by Uruguay in their final Group C match in Missouri on Monday night.
They almost went behind shortly after the half hour mark when the referee let a quick free-kick continue despite the fact that he was still in the process of booking Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards for the foul, but Ream was alert to hook Nahitan Nandez’s shot away before it reached the goal.
The decisive moment arrived 20 minutes into the second half. Matt Turner did well to keep out an initial header from a wide free-kick, but Mathias Olivera reacted quickest to turn home the rebound. Replays suggested the defender had strayed into an offside position, but VAR deemed that he was just about level when the initial header came in.
In the 74th minute, a laser pass from Ream released his club teammate Antonee Robinson down the left flank. The goalkeeper raced out to get a glove on the ball but the States regained possession, with Christian Pulisic eventually seeing his deflected shot headed off the line.
Even if they had managed to find an equaliser, it still would have been a third place finish for the USMNT, with Panama winning 3-1 against Bolivia in the other Group C match to take the runners-up spot.
