The USMNT Earned a Second Friendly Win, This Time After Trailing in the Second Half
The U.S. men’s national team overcame two deficits Tuesday night to beat Chile 4-2 in a friendly at Energizer Park in St. Louis, behind a young, sometimes shaky lineup.
Sebastian Berhalter gave the Americans a 37th-minute lead, finishing a Sergiño Dest cross after Julian Hall’s clever dummy opened space. The U.S. had been living dangerously, with Chile hitting the woodwork twice, and the visitors leveled in first-half stoppage time. Diego Ulloa pounced on a scramble after goalkeeper Chris Brady failed to clear a corner.
Maximiliano Gutiérrez put Chile ahead in the 49th minute, cutting in from the left to beat Brian Schwake, who had replaced Brady at halftime and was making his senior debut.
The response was immediate. Hall rose to head in a Gio Reyna cross in the 51st minute, becoming the youngest player to score in each of his first two USMNT appearances. Chris Richards, one of several World Cup veterans who changed the tone after coming on in the second half, powered home a Berhalter corner in the 72nd minute for a 3-2 lead. Mathis Albert added a stoppage-time goal to seal the win.
“The resilience and everything was fantastic,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said.
Pochettino fielded his youngest lineup yet, and six players made their first career starts: Brady, Hall, Adri Mehmeti, Neil Pierre, Brooklyn Raines and Frankie Westfield. Antonee Robinson wore the captain’s armband for the first time, as St. Louis native Tim Ream was honored after announcing his retirement.
The match ended in a benches-clearing scuffle after Chile’s Leandro Hernández swiped at the ball while Schwake held it. Richards and Hernández were each booked.
“If you mess with family, this is what happens,” Richards said.
The U.S. next faces rival Mexico in Arizona on Saturday.
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