USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter: We dominated Canada despite World Cup qualifying loss

The United States men's national team lost 2-0 to Canada in World Cup qualifying Sunday — a performance U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter celebrated as «dominant» despite the defeat.

Cyle Larin scored in the seventh minute and Samuel Adekugbe clinched the result in the final seconds of stoppage time to give the Canadians the three points at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario.

«I think it was an entire team effort that was outstanding,» Berhalter said. «We asked them to be dominant, we asked them to embrace the conditions, embrace the physicality of going and I think we did that and more.

»It's hard for me to remember a performance away from home this dominant without getting a result."

— ESPN+ viewers guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more — Futbol Americas on ESPN+: MLS, Liga MX, USMNT, El Tri — <a href="/soccer/fifa-world-cup/story/3860182/2022-world-cup-how-qualifying-works-around-the-world?src=" https: www.espn.com target="_blank">World Cup 2022 qualifying: How it works around the world

The United States out-possessed Canada (63% to 37%) and had more shots (13 to 8), but it was the Canadian side — perfectly content to concede possession and attack the U.S. on the counter — that created the more dangerous goal-scoring chances. Canada tallied 1.17 xG to 0.94, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

It was Canada's first win against the United States in World Cup qualifying since 1980 and one provides plenty of breathing room atop the CONCACAF standings. With four matches to play, Canada has 22 points — four points ahead of the United States, which came into the day a point ahead of third-place Mexico.

After starting Jesus Ferreira against El Salvador on Thursday, Berhalter turned to Gyasi Zardes — who he coached