USMNT Battles Back to Defeat Chile

By Daniel Feuerstein | St. Louis, MO | September 29th, 2026

The U.S. Men’s National Team traveled from Central Florida to the Midwest as they faced their second South American opponent in Chile at Energizer Park in downtown St. Louis. This team, filled with veterans and young players, was tasked once again with having a strong performance, showing good chemistry, getting a big result, and continuing to show the nation why they have a bright future in the current 2030 World Cup Cycle. While there were a few ups and downs, it was the USA showing their strength and never-give-up attitude to get the win and take their second straight victory in this current combined international window, with the final score at four goals to two.

Fabulous movement and opens the scoring

It was getting a bit late in the first half as the USA was attacking down the near side. Sergino Dest had the ball and saw Gio Reyna in front of him. Gave Reyna the ball, then got it back. Dest made the move towards the Chilean area and was met by three defenders. While they did close down the space, Dest had enough room to work with the ball and quickly made a pass to his right towards Julian Hall, but instead of possessing it, Hall allowed the ball to go past him, and coming into the space on the far side was Sebastian Berhalter, who was all alone, took a touch, and then blasted the ball low and inside the back post for his second consecutive game with a goal and his fourth in the 37th minute.

A bad scramble and the equalizer

Chile was on the front foot throughout the first half, and they wanted a goal very badly. After taking multiple corners, they finally got a chance to put one away. After the ball was delivered, Chris Brady came off his line and tried to punch the ball away, but missed. Both teams tried to either smash the ball in or keep the ball out, but once it got towards the near side of the area, it was put home by Felipe Faundez as he lifted his right foot and shot it at the net. While it did hit the shoulder of a USA defender, the ball still went in, and the match was tied inside the one minute of first half stoppage time.

Big strike gives the visitors the lead

Just inside the start of the second half, Chile took advantage of a poorly played ball and got the lead. As Antonee Robinson tried to head it away or towards a teammate, he mishit it, and the ball went behind him in the midfield. It was picked up by Maxi Gutierrez, and he was off to the races, moving up along the near side touchline. When he got close to the outside of the area, Gutierrez cut in, took a couple of steps towards his right, and he unleashed a fantastic strike that second half substitute Brian Schwake couldn’t get to. He dove to his left and guessed correctly, but was helpless to stop it as Chile took the lead in the 49th minute.

Hall does it again

Before joining the USA, Julian Hall was on a twelve-match goalless streak and couldn’t buy one to save his life. After receiving a gift from James Sands in the Hudson River Derby at Yankee Stadium against NYCFC, it finally unlocked his head, and he scored his 10th of the league season, 13 in all competitions, and added a second international goal. The ball was being passed around the far side of the pitch, as someone was looking to make magic happen. Gio Reyna was that magic man when he received the ball and made a nice cross towards the middle of the area. Hall was underneath the ball and timed his jump, leaping to head it into the back of the net in the 52nd minute to level the match at two.

The adults came to play and retook the lead

Mauricio Pochettino made his substitutions in the 71st minute and brought in five players. After the subs were made, the USA went back on the attack and tried to take the lead. They earned a corner along the near side. Berhalter was taking the corner, and when he delivered the ball, none of the Chilean defenders marked Chris Richards. He got to a space in front of the keeper with no hesitation, jumped high for the ball, and used his head to score the go-ahead goal, and Energizer Park went into a frenzy in the 72nd minute. Once again, Chris Richards showed why he is a dangerous centerback when he gets the chance to bury the ball into the back of the net.

A new goal-scoring record holder

As the match entered second half stoppage time, five minutes were posted on the board by the fourth official. The USA earned a free kick along the near side and was looking to add a fourth. They did when Antonee Robinson delivered a long cross towards the far post; Auston Trusty got to the ball and headed it down towards Mathis Albert, who smashed it off the bottom of the crossbar, and from the live shot it looked like it never went in, but the near side assistant raised his flag to signal a good goal. On the replay, after the ball struck the bottom of the bar, it landed directly over the goal line, and at the age of 17 years and 131 days old, Albert passed Christian Pulisic as the youngest player on the National Team to score a goal. In the third minute of five in second half stoppage time.

Looking back and looking ahead

The U.S. Men’s National Team had two solid performances against their South American opponents in Peru and Chile, scoring a combined eight goals and allowing three. Sebastian Berhalter and Julian Hall scored in back-to-back games, and Gio Reyna earned an assist in back-to-back games. But now their next two games will begin in October as they face two of their CONCACAF rivals when they face Mexico on the weekend and then Canada the following Tuesday. These are important games for this U.S. Men’s National Team and the hope for qualification for the 2030 World Cup and other tournaments in their region.

The U.S. Men’s National Team defeats Chile in St. Louis and gets their second straight win in this combined international window.

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