ST. LOUIS — Amid all the excitement over his young U.S. soccer team, a wide-eyed team that began the new World Cup cycle with an illuminating performance this weekend, Mauricio Pochettino warned there would be ups and downs along the way.
After all, almost half the team had never played at senior level, and overall the group hadn’t spent much time together.
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Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over Chile at sparkling Energizer Park reinforced the coach’s warning.
There were highs, such as:
The magnificent preparation for the first goal.
Sebastian Berhalter and Gio Reyna put their stamp on another match.
Teenager Julian Hall’s second goal in two appearances and teenager Mathis Albert scoring his first. At 17 years and 4 months, Albert is the youngest scorer in United States history.
Chris Richards’ decisive goal in the 72nd minute in a second-half comeback.
Sebastian Berhalter scored the USMNT’s first goal of the night against Chile.
(Photos by Bill Barrett/ISI via Getty Images)
Overall, it was another good result and a fun outing for a program returning from the World Cup with the second of four friendlies over 11 days. For the second time in four days, the Americans scored four goals and showed their muscles against a South American opponent.
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There were also some troubling moments, notably in the first half, when the Americans conceded numerous scoring chances and made numerous errors. They were lucky to be tied at intermission.
But they showed resilience in the second half and, coupled with Peru’s 4-1 victory last Saturday in Orlando, continued to build momentum ahead of Saturday’s showdown with rival Mexico in the Greater Phoenix. They will also face Canada on October 6 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
At a pre-match ceremony in his hometown, World Cup captain Tim Ream was honored for his 16 years and 86 appearances with the national team. The Charlotte FC central defender, who turns 39 on Friday, announced moments earlier that he had retired from international soccer and would not consider his club’s future until after the MLS season.
“The kids are getting younger and younger,” he said. Ream was talking about the American list, not his three children.
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“I actually got a text message last night that I was a senior at Saint Louis University when (17-year-old forward Cavan Sullivan) was born,” Ream said. “I was like, ‘He’s only four years older than me.'”
Ream was not selected on the current roster.
The starting lineup Tuesday averaged just over 23 years old, including teenagers Hall, Neil Pierre and Adri Mehmeti. Other young starters were midfielder Brooklyn Raines, 21, and right back Frankie Westfield, 20.
Standing nearly 6-foot-7, 18-year-old Pierre was unmistakable on defense. Like Sullivan, he enjoyed a breakout campaign with the Philadelphia Union.
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Reyna was the only starter remaining from the match against Peru. Like Saturday, Pochettino started six players for the 2026 World Cup: Reyna, Berhalter, goalkeeper Chris Brady, wingers Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest and central defender Miles Robinson.
Brady, 22, made his first international debut after coming on as a substitute during a World Cup build-up.
Chile – who have missed three World Cups since winning the 2016 Copa America – were without captain Gabriel Suazo and Lucas Cepeda, La Liga players who were shown a red card in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Canada in Toronto.
As they did against Peru, the Americans threatened from the start with Reyna’s free kick. His free kick from 25 yards met Miles Robinson for a close range header which Lawrence Vigouroux saved in spectacular fashion.
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The United States was organized and energetic at first but not always precise. In the 18th minute, a miscommunication between Berhalter and Mehmeti led to a Chilean threat. A minute later, a tasty through ball from Berhalter sent Hall through alone, but after rounding Vigouroux his off-balance, angled bid missed high and wide.
Brady was shaking, sitting down when he should have come forward and allowing Victor Méndez to test him. Then, on shots a minute apart, he was also lucky when Ben Brereton’s screamer rang off the crossbar and Darío Osorio’s low attempt hit the far post.
Against the run of play, the match took an unexpected turn.
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Two minutes after Osorio’s scare, the Americans took the lead in the 37th minute with a wonderfully constructed goal. They won the ball back in midfield. Dest and Reyna played a sharp combination. With quick and clever footwork, Dest danced into the box. He crossed to Hall, who faked the ball with the intelligence of a veteran, allowing Berhalter to bury a 12-yarder to the far post.
Brady’s problems continued. In the last act of the half – a Chilean corner – he sent the ball up, then back. A mad scramble ensues. Finally, from inside the penalty area, Diego Ulloa’s sideways volley flew off Westfield’s arm and into the net.
Brady’s night – or nightmare – was over. As against Peru, Pochettino changed goalkeepers at halftime: FC Cincinnati’s Brian Schwake made his first appearance, becoming the 12th start in this side.
He couldn’t do much against Maxi Gutiérrez’s goal in the 49th minute. Westfield’s mishit header in midfield allowed Gutiérrez to slip into the American camp. Berhalter failed to stop it and the Chilean striker whistled a 23-yard shot into the far corner with pinpoint accuracy.
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Two minutes later, the United States responded. Reyna lifted a soft cross into the box, where Hall rose eight yards and headed it towards the opposite side.
Pochettino turned to his bench and made seven substitutions, including five veterans. Vigouroux made a fine foot save on Antonee Robinson, but from the ensuing corner, Berhalter delivered a perfect ball to Richards for a powerful header from the edge of the penalty area.
Chile threatened to return to normal. The USA extended their lead with Albert’s stab under the crossbar from close range. The announced crowd of 21,680 loved it.
Just before the final whistle, a bench-emptying brawl broke out after a Chilean player tapped the fallen Schwake’s arm with his foot. Play resumed, but at the final whistle another brief incident broke out.
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“Take Me Home, Country Roads” blared through the speakers.
American notes
Winger Cole Campbell, who was playing in the Peru game for the first time due to an undisclosed illness, and goalkeeper Diego Kochen, who played the second half Saturday, were not in uniform. Kochen was healthy, but Pochettino opted to dress 26 players again.
In his 60th appearance, Antonee Robinson captained the team for the first time.
Sullivan replaced Berhalter in the 83rd minute.
The Americans are 11-1-3 in greater St. Louis, including 5-0-0 at Energizer Park, located 1.3 miles directly west of Gateway Arch and opened ahead of the 2023 MLS season.
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