Sebastian Berhalter kicked off the scoring with a thunderous strike and Alex Freeman added a pair of first-half objectives because the United States ran roughshod over Uruguay in a 5-1 pleasant win at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday night time.
The U.S. took a shocking lead within the first half when Berhalter smashed a shot from a set piece previous Uruguay keeper Cristopher Fiermarin.
And the surprises stored coming for the Individuals, who had been enjoying with out a few of their largest stars like Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams.
Ten minutes later Freeman beat Fiermarin with a towering header from a nook kick for his first U.S. purpose, after which scored once more as he tiptoed by means of the Uruguay protection and rifled in a close-range shot to make it 3-0.
The objectives stored coming for the U.S. as Diego Luna completed off a pleasant workforce transfer down the left flank with a first-time shot earlier than Uruguay lastly received on the scoreboard with a ravishing overhead kick from Giorgian de Arrascaeta that despatched the guests to the locker room trailing 4-1.
U.S. supervisor Mauricio Pochettino was irritated by the late purpose when he spoke to TNT throughout an interview at halftime.
“We have to hold our depth and our focus,” Pochettino mentioned. “That may’t occur. Now we have to management the feelings and management the second half. That’s the most tough factor.”
Pochettino made 9 adjustments to the lineup that beat Paraguay 2-1 on Saturday, with Sergiño Dest and goalkeeper Matthew Freese the one two gamers to make the XI once more.
Giovanni Reyna, who scored in his first begin for the U.S. for the reason that summer time of 2024, was a type of neglected of the lineup, however he got here on for Luna within the 61st minute together with his workforce nonetheless main 4-1.
Uruguay had been all the way down to 10 gamers shortly after Reyna took the sector when Rodrigo Bentancur was proven a straight pink card for a lunging slide deal with that caught Berhalter on his decrease leg.
The Individuals took benefit of the additional man as Reyna arrange fellow substitute Tanner Tessmann for his first purpose in a U.S. jersey to increase the result in 4 objectives.
The end result marked the primary time the U.S. has scored 5 objectives in opposition to a workforce that has received a World Cup or any workforce from South America and helps Pochettino’s facet finish a tumultuous calendar yr on a significant excessive.
The Individuals have received 4 video games, together with three straight, through the five-game unbeaten streak in opposition to World Cup-bound groups.
Subsequent yr, the U.S. will play two friendlies in March — possible in opposition to Portugal and Belgium — after which two extra in late Could or early June forward of internet hosting the World Cup on residence soil together with Canada and Mexico subsequent summer time.
Data from The Related Press was used on this recap.
