Before 1878, a referee trying to get players’ attention was left to waive a white handkerchief in the air. It was an imperfect practice, asking an infractor to be self-aware enough to look for a doffed doily after hard contact. The game forever changed when Joseph Hudson, a Birmingham-bred tool maker who founded Acme Whistles, showed up to an FA Cup match in 1878 with his signature product in tow.
On Tuesday, nearly 150 years after Hudson’s innovation, referee Steven Madrigal paid the architect a hearty tribute. The United States and Canada closed the lengthy window with a stop-start, physical, and at times ugly affair, with the hosts claiming a 1-0 victory on an otherwise gorgeous autumn evening in Minnesota. Justin Ellis bagged his second goal for the US with a first-time finish, while Brian Schwake kept a clean sheet in his first international start.
As for the music to Hudson’s belated ears: 43 fouls committed between the sides, with the US also leading that count by one. The regional rivals wasted no time in letting the game get chippy, as games between them tend to get. In the 2026 World Cup, only group opponents Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland averaged more fouls per game (14.4) than Canada; their 11 yellow cards trailed only Argentina (13) and Egypt (12) despite playing fewer games than each.
Marsch’s side committed nine fouls in the opening 16 minutes to the hosts’ three, keeping the US from building a head of steam whenever they had the ball. Boos followed each foul on Tuesday, with the loudest jeering saved for touches by Canada goalkeeper Dayne St Clair, returning to the venue for the first time since leaving Minnesota United for Inter Miami as a free agent after seven seasons in Saint Paul. A heavily rotated US side struggled to find avenues while keeping the ball on the ground, slinging passes from side to side in a fruitless attempt to unsettle the Canadian defensive block.
Justin Ellis was the unfortunate first victim of a hard challenge, staying on the Allianz Field pitch for a few minutes after a collision in the 20th minute, but he was able to continue after some medical treatment. Perhaps the physios ought to be credited with a second assist for their efforts. Five minutes after re-entering the game, Ellis navigated the channel as Alex Freeman worked a one-two to get the ball into the final third.
The pair of Orlando academy products connected with aplomb, as Freeman’s cross bypassed St Clair for Ellis to slam home. The 19-year-old has two goals in his first three appearances for the US – doubling his club goal tally from 19 MLS appearances to date. The game failed to regain any normal flow from there, as the US showing greater willingness to meet Canada’s muscle.
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