Topics: Sergino Dest, USMNT, Trinidad and Tobago, CONCACAF Nations League
The PSV defender lost his cool and picked up two yellow cards in 30 seconds, leaving the Stars and Stripes with only 10 men for most of their CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal tie.

The USMNT were in action on Monday, visiting Trinidad and Tobago for the second leg of their CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal showdown. The Stars and Stripes won the first leg 3-0 and established a 4-0 lead thanks to an Antonee Robinson goal in the 25th minute. However, a moment of madness from Sergino Dest nearly cost them the game.

The PSV full-back was named in the lineup but was unable to complete the match after getting himself sent off in the most ridiculous manner. The Eredivisie defender, on loan from Barcelona, picked up two yellow cards in the span of 30 seconds — yes, seconds, not minutes — and was forced to leave the pitch in utter shame.

The player, who was already upset over the referee's decision to give a foul earlier on, lost his cool in the 39th minute after his attempt to keep the ball in play was flagged for a throw-in by the linesman. Dest then picked up the ball and booted it away in frustration, resulting in his first booking.

However, instead of walking away with that unnecessary yellow card, the 23-year-old then confronted the referee. Fellow youngsters Gio Reyna and Yunus Musah tried to drag Dest away, with Reyna covering the PSV defender's mouth in an attempt to stop him from talking himself into another booking. 

Unfortunately for the USMNT, that is exactly what Dest did, as the match official brandished another yellow card and sent Sergino off, who responded to his red card by blowing a kiss at the referee. Tim Ream, who was the captain on that day, and goalkeeper Matt Turner, who plays for Premier League sides Nottingham Forest, both confronted Dest on the pitch in anger and gave him an earful over his silly actions. Turner could even be seen pushing the fullback in an attempt to get him off the pitch quicker.

The Stars and Stripes went on to lose that game 2-1 but progressed to the CONCACAF finals regardless thanks to a 4-2 aggregate victory. This secured their qualification for the 2024 Copa America but several key figures in the national team openly expressed their anger with Dest, ranging from the head coach Gregg Berhalter to Tim Ream.

"It is concerning because that's not what we want to represent," Berhalter said, as per ESPN. "That's not who we are as a group. We pride ourselves in staying mentally disciplined, battling through any type of conditions, whether they're good decisions or bad decisions. We're supposed to keep going and respond in an appropriate way, and that obviously wasn't the right response from Sergino."

Antonee Robinson, who scored their only goal of the game, labeled Dest's actions "a moment of unprofessionalism" while Ream stated that the fullback showed utter disrespect for his teammates and the officials.

However, Berhalter refused to confirm whether he would be dropped for the CONCACAF Nations League finals as punishment and instead stressed that Dest is a young player who will learn from this "dumb" moment. The player, meanwhile, apologized to his teammates in the dressing room and to the public via Instagram following the full-time whistle.