Sebastian Berhalter ignited the scoring with a powerful strike, followed by Alex Freeman who netted two goals in the first half, as the United States dominated Uruguay in a convincing 5-1 victory during their friendly match at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday night.
The U.S. shocked the crowd by taking an early lead, with Berhalter delivering a powerful shot from a set piece into the net past Uruguay goalkeeper Cristopher Fiermarin.
The surprises continued for the Americans, despite missing several key players such as Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams.
Freeman found the net ten minutes later with an impressive header from a corner kick for his first goal with the national team, and soon after, he navigated through the Uruguay defense to score again from close range, extending the lead to 3-0.
The U.S. continued to build on their lead as Diego Luna capped off a well-executed team play with a first-time shot, but Uruguay responded with a stunning overhead kick from Giorgian de Arrascaeta, leaving the halftime score at 4-1.
Following the match, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed his frustration about conceding the late goal during an interview with TNT. “We need to maintain our intensity and concentration,” Pochettino remarked. “That can’t happen. Now, we must manage our emotions and focus on the second half—it’s the hardest task.”
Pochettino made significant changes to the lineup that secured a 2-1 victory over Paraguay on Saturday, with only Sergiño Dest and goalkeeper Matthew Freese retaining their spots in the starting XI.
Giovanni Reyna, who netted a goal in his first start for the U.S. since the summer of 2024, was among those not starting but came on for Luna in the 61st minute, still with a 4-1 lead.
Things took a turn for the Uruguayans shortly after Reyna entered the game when Rodrigo Bentancur received a straight red card for a reckless slide tackle that caught Berhalter on the lower leg.
With the numerical advantage, the U.S. capitalized when Reyna set up fellow substitute Tanner Tessmann for his first goal in a U.S. jersey, pushing the lead to four goals.
This victory marked a historic achievement, as it was the first time the U.S. scored five goals against a World Cup-winning team or any South American nation, closing a challenging year on a high note for Pochettino’s squad.
The Americans have now secured four victories, including three consecutive wins, during their impressive five-match unbeaten streak against World Cup-bound teams.
Looking ahead, the U.S. is set to face two friendly matches in March, likely against Portugal and Belgium, followed by two additional friendlies in late May or early June before hosting the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico next summer.
This recap includes information from The Associated Press.