After Missing the November International Window, Winger to Feature Against Inter
Christian Pulisic returns to action at the perfect moment as AC Milan prepares for Sunday's crucial Derby della Madonnina against Inter at the San Siro. The American star, who missed the USMNT's recent November matches due to a low-grade hamstring tear suffered during October's international window, made his comeback with a 20-minute cameo against Parma on November 8 and appears ready to influence one of football's most storied rivalries.
The timing couldn't be better for Milan. Pulisic has emerged as a derby specialist, transforming from a player who struggled to impact his first four Milan derbies into one of the fixture's most decisive performers. Last September, he produced a memorable solo goal, weaving through Inter's defense from 30 yards to spark a crucial 2-1 victory. He followed that with another vital goal in January's Supercoppa Italiana final and delivered an outstanding performance in April's 3-0 triumph.
Manager Massimiliano Allegri will deploy Pulisic alongside Rafael Leao for the first time in nearly 100 days, since August's match against Bari. The partnership offers Milan complementary threats: Leao provides explosive pace and unpredictable dribbling, while Pulisic operates between the lines with tactical intelligence and quick decision-making, capable of dismantling Inter's defensive structure.
Milan reportedly kept Pulisic from joining the USMNT during the November window specifically to ensure his fitness for this derby. Having recorded six goal contributions in eight appearances before his injury, the 27-year-old was in sharp form and brings his well-documented ability to step up in big matches.
The stakes are substantial. Inter currently tops Serie A with 24 points, while Milan sits just two points behind with 22. In a tightly contested title race where both teams have been difficult to beat, individual brilliance often decides derby outcomes. With Pulisic's proven track record in this fixture and his fresh legs following rest, he could once again provide the spark that tilts Sunday's clash.
His Curling Effort in the First Half Set the Tone in U.S. Win
Sebastian Berhalter's first international goal carried emotional weight far beyond the scoreline, marking a triumphant moment for the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder who has steadily worked his way into World Cup contention despite the shadow of family controversy.
The 24-year-old opened the scoring in Tuesday's 5-1 rout of Uruguay with a beautifully executed set piece in the 17th minute. After lining up for a free kick roughly 20 yards from goal, Berhalter played the ball short to Sergiño Dest, who immediately returned it. Berhalter then curled a perfectly struck right-footed effort into the upper corner past Uruguay goalkeeper Cristopher Fiermarin.
"I just had to strike through the ball, and I'm so happy it went in," Berhalter told the U.S. Soccer Podcast. "I can't even put into words, honestly, the feeling of scoring for your country."
Three minutes later, he transitioned from goalscorer to provider, delivering an excellent corner kick that Alex Freeman headed home for the second goal. The performance showcased why Berhalter has become invaluable to Mauricio Pochettino's plans—his set-piece delivery offers a crucial weapon the USMNT has lacked in recent years.
The goal added another highlight to Berhalter's breakout 2025 season, during which he led all Whitecaps players in minutes while setting career highs with 25 starts, four goals, and 11 assists. The moment was particularly sweet given the added context: Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa had previously criticized MLS for making players "lazy," yet his team conceded five goals to an American squad featuring numerous MLS players. Berhalter's goal and subsequent assist proved that MLS talent, including his own contributions, could compete at the highest international level—silencing critics while celebrating a dream come true.
Matt Freese's remarkable transformation from afterthought to national team starter reached another milestone Tuesday as he made his 12th consecutive start for the USMNT in their 5-1 victory over Uruguay. However, his focus now shifts to an emotionally charged MLS Eastern Conference semifinal as his New York City FC faces his former club, the Philadelphia Union, on Sunday.
Just a year ago, Freese was barely on the radar as Matt Turner appeared locked in as Pochettino's first-choice goalkeeper. But Turner's lack of playing time at Crystal Palace opened the door, and Freese burst through it. His breakout moment came during the Gold Cup quarterfinal against Costa Rica, where he made three crucial penalty saves, earning the nickname "Matty Ice."
Since then, Freese has been unshakeable in his commitment to excellence. During last week's homecoming to the Philadelphia area, he stayed almost entirely in the team hotel, declining family visits and interview requests to maintain his focus.
"I actually didn't see my family, I didn't do anything," Freese confirmed. "I just stayed in the hotel. I'm a bit of a loser, but when I'm in camp, I'm locked in."
Sunday's playoff clash adds personal stakes to professional ambition. Released by the Union in 2022 after their MLS Cup final run, Freese joined NYCFC and was named their MVP last season. Now the fifth-seeded Cityzens face the top-seeded Supporters' Shield-winning Union at Subaru Park—the same venue where Freese shone for the national team just days earlier.
Alex Freeman's meteoric rise continued Tuesday night as the 21-year-old Orlando City defender scored twice in the USMNT's dominant 5-1 victory over Uruguay, positioning himself as a genuine contender for next summer's World Cup roster.
Making only his 13th international appearance—just six months after his debut against Turkey—Freeman delivered a performance that showcased both his defensive prowess and attacking capabilities. His first goal came via a towering header from Sebastian Berhalter's corner in the 20th minute. 11 minutes later, he produced an even more impressive strike, deftly dribbling through Uruguay's defense, splitting Barcelona's Ronald Araujo and Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte before finishing clinically from close range.
The two-goal performance earned Freeman his first Man of the Match honors for the national team and capped a remarkable breakthrough year. Recently named MLS Young Player of the Year, Freeman accumulated nine goal contributions for Orlando City while earning MLS All-Star and Best XI selections. His consistency has made him indispensable to manager Mauricio Pochettino, who praised his composure on the ball, saying the team feels relieved when Freeman is in possession.
Freeman's ambitions have grown alongside his profile. A year ago, he simply hoped to break into Orlando's first team regularly. Now, wearing the Stars and Stripes, his focus has shifted entirely toward one objective: making the 2026 World Cup roster.
"For me, obviously, it's making that World Cup roster," Freeman stated plainly. "That's the biggest thing in my head right now, it's the biggest goal I have."
The defender has started every Gold Cup match and all six recent friendlies under Pochettino, consistently demonstrating maturity beyond his years. His combative spirit was evident during a late-game scuffle with Paraguay's Gustavo Gómez, showing he possesses the mental toughness required for international competition. With each performance, particularly his breakout showing against Uruguay, Freeman strengthens his World Cup case considerably.
Three Players Scored Their First International Goals in a Thrashing Over Uruguay
The United States men's national team delivered a stunning performance, crushing Uruguay 5-1 in a friendly at Raymond James Stadium on Tuesday night. The emphatic victory showcased the team's depth as manager Mauricio Pochettino made nine lineup changes from Saturday's win over Paraguay, with only Sergiño Dest and goalkeeper Matthew Freese retaining their starting positions.
Sebastian Berhalter opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a curled effort from a set piece, finding the upper corner to notch his first international goal. Alex Freeman quickly doubled the advantage three minutes later, heading home from Berhalter's corner kick for his inaugural U.S. goal. The Orlando City defender then added a spectacular second in the 31st minute, weaving through multiple Uruguayan defenders before slotting home from close range, giving the Americans a commanding 3-0 lead.
Diego Luna extended the margin to 4-0 in the 42nd minute, calmly finishing a well-constructed team sequence down the left side. Uruguay finally found the net just before halftime when Giorgian de Arrascaeta converted an acrobatic bicycle kick. However, Pochettino expressed frustration about the lapse in concentration during his halftime interview with TNT.
The second half saw Uruguay reduced to ten men when Rodrigo Bentancur received a straight red card in the 64th minute for a dangerous tackle on Berhalter. Substitute Tanner Tessmann capitalized shortly after, heading home a cross from fellow substitute Gio Reyna in the 68th minute to complete the rout.
The victory represents the USMNT's third win over Uruguay in ten all-time meetings and their first since 2002. The result extends their unbeaten streak to five matches against World Cup-qualified opponents, providing tremendous momentum as they prepare to host the 2026 World Cup.
On This Day in 2022, USA and Wales Share Points in Long-Awaited World Cup Opener
The roster announcement came on a crisp November Wednesday in New York, the culmination of four years, 56 matches and 88 player auditions. Gregg Berhalter, the tactician who inherited a program in crisis after the 2018 qualifying disaster, revealed his 26-man squad for Qatar with a mix of anticipated selections and one stunning omission: Zack Steffen, his longtime first-choice goalkeeper, wouldn't be making the trip.
"To tell him he's not going to be part of the World Cup team was heartbreaking for me," Berhalter admitted. The decision cleared the path for Matt Turner, Arsenal's backup keeper, to assume the starting role—a symbolic passing of the torch in a squad averaging just 25.5 years old, expected to be among the youngest in the 32-team field. Ricardo Pepi, who helped save Berhalter's job in Honduras, was also not included on the final roster.
This was Berhalter's team now, rebuilt from the wreckage of that October 2017 night in Trinidad when the program hit rock bottom. Tyler Adams, who joined the national team during that rudderless period in 2018, remembered it clearly: "We had no identity, no game plan. It was almost just like you were going to national team camp for fun." Berhalter changed that. The Columbus Crew alumnus arrived preaching possession-based soccer before adjusting to his young, athletic roster's strengths with a more direct, pressing approach.
The Americans drew Wales for their opener on November 21 at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan—a collision of drought-stricken programs. While the U.S. hadn't appeared since 2014, Wales was returning after 64 years away, having last played in 1958 when a teenage Pelé ended their run. The Welsh still had a trump card in 33-year-old Gareth Bale, their all-time leading scorer who'd just helped LAFC win the MLS Cup despite fitness concerns.
For American fans, especially Christian Pulisic—captured in that haunting image from Trinidad, head in hands amid the grass stains of failure—reaching Qatar meant everything. "He's one of the people that really felt the heartbreak back in 2017," Turner said. After four years of theorizing and character-building, Berhalter's blueprint would finally face its test.
The Americans emerged like they had something to prove. They controlled possession in the opening 10 minutes, pinning Wales deep with crisp passing and aggressive positioning. Josh Sargent flashed toward goal early, forcing Welsh keeper Wayne Hennessey into an awkward save. The U.S. looked nothing like the tentative team that had imploded in qualifying. But there were warning signs. Sergiño Dest and Weston McKennie picked up yellow cards in the 11th and 13th minutes for rough challenges on Neco Williams—bookings that would carry extra weight with suspension threats looming. Still, the Americans pressed forward.
The breakthrough arrived in the 36th minute, a sequence that captured everything Berhalter had built. Walker Zimmerman started the move, feeding Antonee Robinson, who found Pulisic. The Chelsea winger laid off a short pass to Yunus Musah, then accelerated through the center channel as Josh Sargent received and redirected the ball back to him. As Pulisic charged forward, dragging defenders with him, Tim Weah made a slashing run from the right wing. Pulisic's weighted pass arrived perfectly, and Weah needed just one deft touch with the outside of his boot to flick it past Hennessey.
"Playing with Christian is amazing," Weah said afterward. "Once he gets the ball, I just have to run behind them." Weah wheeled toward the corner flag and slid onto the turf as teammates engulfed him. In the VIP section, his father George—the former world player of the year who never got his own World Cup moment—watched alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken, living the dream through his son.
The U.S. took that 1-0 lead into halftime, having controlled two-thirds of possession. But Wales manager Rob Page made a critical adjustment, inserting 6-foot-5 striker Kieffer Moore to target the American defense with direct play. The crosses started raining down, and the complexion changed entirely. Wales grew bolder in the second half, exploiting Dest's defensive limitations and peppering the American box with long balls aimed at Moore's towering frame. Turner made a crucial save in the 64th minute after Ben Davies headed a corner kick toward goal, then watched Moore drill the rebound over the crossbar. The Americans were holding on now, no longer dictating terms.
Berhalter shuffled his lineup, bringing on Brenden Aaronson for McKennie in the 66th minute, then making three substitutions eight minutes later: DeAndre Yedlin, Haji Wright, and Kellyn Acosta. But the elusive insurance goal never came, and in the 80th minute, disaster struck. Wales broke quickly from a throw-in, working the ball to Bale inside the penalty area. As he prepared to receive it, Zimmerman clumsily slid in from behind, his challenge catching Bale's legs and sending him tumbling. The defender lay sprawled on the turf, wagging his finger and screaming "No, no, no, no, no!" as the referee pointed to the spot. "I think it was one of those where he probably just puts his leg not for the ball but to try to get in the way of me hitting the ball," Zimmerman said later. "Clever move."
Bale stepped up two minutes later, standing before a sea of red-clad Welsh supporters. His left-footed blast flew into the right corner, past Turner's outstretched hands. Wales had its first World Cup goal in 64 years, delivered by the man who always seemed destined to provide it. The clock that had crawled while the U.S. led now seemed to sprint through nine minutes of stoppage time.
The final whistle brought relief to Wales and deflation to the Americans, who'd been 10 minutes from a perfect start. Pulisic, battered and bruised from absorbing punishment all night, could only shake his head. "Disappointing for sure after such a good start," he said. "We got the goal we needed, and I guess we just dropped off in the second half."
The draw left both teams with a single point, but only Wales felt like celebrating. For the Americans, it carried the sting of two points dropped despite dominating long stretches of their first World Cup match in eight years. "We're disappointed with the nature of how the game played out, having a great first half, getting the first goal, and being in a position with less than 15 minutes left to walk away with three points," Zimmerman said.
Yet perspective mattered. A point in the opener was better than none, and the performance—particularly that dominant first half—validated much of what Berhalter had been building. The second-youngest squad in Qatar hadn't looked overwhelmed on soccer's biggest stage. They'd controlled possession, created chances, and played the confident, forward-moving soccer their coach demanded.
The challenge now shifts to England, which demolished Iran 6-2 in its opener and will present an entirely different test on Friday. "It comes down to the smallest details in games like this," captain Tyler Adams told the Fox broadcast. The Americans had learned that lesson the hard way, unable to capitalize on their superiority before Wales found its footing.
For Pulisic, who'd given everything despite being knocked down repeatedly, the frustration was tempered by pragmatism. One match played. One lesson learned. The redemption tour Berhalter had orchestrated since 2018 would have to continue the hard way, with the Americans still controlling their destiny but knowing margins for error had grown razor-thin. The World Cup, they were reminded, rarely is.
