Diego Lainez shrugs off height dig from Chelsea loanee Matt Miazga

Tensions boiled over in the US Men’s National Team victory against rivals Mexico after Matt Miazga mocked Diego Lainez for being short.

The game was stuck in a stalemate as the game crossed the hour mark in Nashville before an incident involving Nantes defender Matt Miazga, on loan from Chelsea, and Club America youngster Diego Lainez kick the game into life.

It started when a long hopeful ball was played over the top and both players gave chase, Miazga won the ball and was fouled by Lainez prompting the two to face off.

Miazga, standing tall over the shorter Mexican, then used an arm gesture to mock the teenager for his lack of height sparking a fracas between the two set of players.

The game soon swung in the USMNT favour as Mexico had a man sent off shortly after the incident and a Tyler Adams goal was enough to win the contest.

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The players played down the incident after the game with Lianez saying: “It’s something that happens in soccer. A little run-in. It’s nothing. It’s something that’s totally normal.”

The 18-year-old went on to add: “It doesn’t offend me at all, it’s part of football. Quality is not measured by height. I’m calm.”

Meanwhile, Miazga believes that the incident gave his side the edge which helped them go to win the game.

“It’s normal. We talked a little smack,” Miazga told reporters, via Goal. “It’s part of the game. It’s mental warfare. We got in their heads, they got a red card right after and you saw what happened. We took control and we won the game.”

It was Mexican player Angel Zaldivar that was shown his marching orders for a tackle on midfielder Wil Trapp after coming in studs up and over the ball on the U.S. midfielder.

This gave the Americans the advantage they needed to go on a win the game.

Miazga’s antics

This is not the first time the Chelsea defender has been in trouble for this sort incident.

While playing on loan at Dutch Eredivisie side Vitesse Arnhem he received a fine following a clash with Heerenveen defender Denzel Dumfries.

As the two players were jostling at a corner Miazga grab Dumfries in the privates causing the player to collapse to the ground.

Vitesse were quick to fine the player for the incident, which was not spotted by the officials at the time.

Miazga joined Chelsea from New York Red Bulls for £3.5m last summer but has only made two appearances for the London club after going out on loan, first to Vitesse and now to Ligue 1 side Nantes.

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