What is the story about?
Here’s a bullet-point rundown of USA player performances this week (Monday through Thursday). Players are divided by position groups (which helps my depth-chart-oriented brain process this information most usefully). Stats are from FotMob.
Strikers
- Julian Hall (18) made his first USA start in the 4-2 friendly win over Chile on Tuesday, played 71 minutes, scored a goal, and missed 2 big chances.
Nice dummy from Hall to set up Berhalter’s goal:
Hall’s goal:
Hall speaking post-game:
- Damion Downs (22) played 19 minutes off the bench against Chile.
- Justin Ellis (19) was an unused sub.
- Jordan Pefok (30) played the first half of Greuther Fürth’s 0-5 friendly loss to Stuttgart on Thursday.
- Jordan Morris (31) played the full 90, provided an assist, and created 5 chances in the Seattle Sounders’ 2-1 win over Sporting KC in MLS on Thursday.
Wingers/attacking mids
- Gio Reyna (23) played 71 minutes, provided an assist (Julian Hall’s goal above), and created 5 chances in the USA-Chile game.
- Malik Tillman (24) played 27 minutes off the bench and created 3 chances against Chile.
- Mathis Albert (17) played 19 minutes off the bench, scored his first USA goal, and created a chance in the Chile game.
Albert with a ridiculous turn:
Albert’s goal:
- Cavan Sullivan (now 17) played 7 minutes off the bench against Chile.
Cavan was also named MLS player of the month. Later this week, there has also been reporting that nothing has changed with Cavan and Manchester City’s plans despite the club being found guilty of 100+ charges of cheating.
- Zavier Gozo (19) was an unused sub against Chile.
- Cole Campbell (20) is in camp. but did not dress against Chile.
- Cade Cowell (22) played the full 90 and created a chance in the New York Red Bulls’ 0-3 loss to St. Louis City in MLS on Wednesday.
- Jorge Ruvalcaba (25) played 64 minutes and created a chance in the New York Red Bulls’ 0-3 loss to St. Louis City in MLS on Wednesday.
- Sebastian Gomez (20) played 45 minutes off the bench and scored a goal in the Seattle Sounders’ 2-1 win over Sporting KC in MLS on Thursday.
Center mids
- Brooklyn Raines (21) made his first USA start and played the full 90 in the USA-Chile game.
- Sebastian Berhalter (25) played 83 minutes, scored a goal, provided an assist (Richards’ goal below), and created 3 chances against Chile, and was rated Man of the Match by FotMob.
Berhalter’s goal:
- Adri Mehmeti (17) made his first USA start, playing 62 minutes in the Chile game.
Looks like Mehmeti already has a special handshake with Red Bulls club teammate Julian Hall:
- Tyler Adams (27) played 28 minutes off the bench against Chile.
- Yunus Musah (23) was an unused sub against Chile.
- Daniel Edelman (23) played 85 minutes in St. Louis City’s 3-0 win over the Red Bulls in MLS on Wednesday.
- Santiago Castañeda (21) played 58 minutes in Paderborn’s 1-0 friendly win over DC United on Wednesday. Castañeda is also in Sofascore’s U21 best XI from top 5 leagues so far this season (alongside names like Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler).
- Cristian Roldán (31) played the full 90, scored a goal, and created 2 chances in the Seattle Sounders’ 2-1 win over Sporting KC in MLS on Thursday.
- Owen Wolff (21) missed Sporting KC’s 1-2 loss to the Seattle Sounders in MLS on Thursday due to a quad problem.
Fullbacks
- Antonee Robinson (29) wore the captain’s armband, played the full 90 and missed a big chance in the USA-Chile game.
- Sergiño Dest (25) played 63 minutes and provided an assist (Berhalter’s goal above) against Chile.
- Frankie Westfield (20) made his first USA start, playing 62 minutes against Chile.
- Alex Freeman (22) played 28 minutes off the bench against Chile.
- Peyton Miller (18) was an unused sub against Chile.
Center-backs
- Miles Robinson (29) played 63 minutes and missed a big chance against Chile.
- Neil Pierre (18) made his first USA start, playing 63 minutes against Chile.
- Chris Richards (26) played 27 minutes off the bench and scored a goal against Chile.
Richards spoke after the game about the scrum with Chile:
- Auston Trusty (28) played 27 minutes off the bench, provided an assist (Albert’s goal above), and created 2 chances against Chile.
- George Campbell (25) was an unused sub against Chile.
- Jackson Ragen (28) played the full 90 in the Seattle Sounders’ 2-1 win over Sporting KC in MLS on Thursday.
- Stuart Hawkins (20) played 63 minutes in the Sounders-Sporting KC game.
Goalkeepers
- Chris Brady (22) made his first USA start against Chile, played 45 minutes, made 5 saves, and conceded 1 goal in the USA-Chile game.
The goal Brady conceded:
- Brian Schwake (25) made his USA debut against Chile, played 45 minutes off the bench, made 1 save, and conceded 1 goal.
- Matt Freese (28) was an unused sub against Chile.
- Diego Kochen (20) is in camp, but did not dress against Chile.
- Ethan Horvath (31) played the full 90 and made 5 saves in the New York Red Bulls’ 0-3 loss to St. Louis City in MLS on Wednesday.
Not related to any player, but here’s the brouhaha from the end of the Chile game:
After the final whistle, the vibes were good:
What were your takeaways? Hit the comments to discuss.
