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USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis suffer second half collapse, lose to Chelsea in Europa Conference League final

U.S. men's national team midfielder Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis fell to English Premier League side Chelsea FC in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday, losing 4-1 at the Wroclaw Stadium in Wroclaw, Poland.Cardoso played 85 minutes, putting in a formidable midfield performance against Chelsea duo Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, but Betis fell short over the final 45 minutes, conceding four unanswered to the Blues.The Spanish outfit opened the scoring just nine minutes into the match, with forward Abde Ezzalzouli finding the back of the net off a delightful assist from Isco, but the Blues stormed back in the second half to be crowned champions of the competition. Goals from Fernandez, striker Nicolas Jackson, winger Jadon Sancho, and midfielder Moises Caicedo sealed the deal as Cardoso and Co. fell short in the club's first appearance in a major European final.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Cardoso completed 20 of 24 pass attempts, creating one chance off 37 total touches of the ball. He registered just one touch in the Chelsea box and won just four of his nine ground duels against the English opposition.Named to Mauricio Pochettino's <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/tyler-adams-folarin-balogun-and-sergino-dest-headline-usmnt-s-pre-gold-cup-squad-as-christian-pulisic-antonee-robinson-and-yunus-musah-miss-out/bltf076aa048becaa31" target="_self">27-man CONCACAF Gold Cup training camp last week</a>, the 23-year-old is expected to play a big role with the USMNT this summer, with both Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah absent from the squad. McKennie will be competing in the FIFA Club World Cup with Juventus, while Musah was excluded for personal reasons.Cardoso has 18 senior caps with the program and has been linked with a big transfer away from Betis this summer, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/usmnt-real-betis-johnny-cardoso-reportedly-atletico-madrid/blte776e206ddd3b538" target="_self">Atletico Madrid recently surfacing as a potential suitor.</a>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Cardoso became the first American to ever start a major European final on Wednesday, getting the nod for Betis in the midfield.

DID YOU KNOW?

Cardoso will report to USMNT camp next week, with a pair of international friendlies on the cards in the buildup to the tournament. The U.S. clashes with Turkey on June 7, and then takes on Switzerland on June 14 before they begin their Gold Cup journey against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15.

WHAT NEXT FOR CARDOSO?

USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso and Real Betis suffer second half collapse, lose to Chelsea in Europa Conference League final | Goal.com

The 23-year-old U.S. midfielder and the La Liga side conceded four second half goals, falling in the club&apos;s first major European final appearance