After making easy work of Peru to begin the window, the USMNT took on Chile in St. Louis. Chile sat back and hit on the transition, but they were pushing forward throughout the game. The Americans kept much of the ball but the defense could have used more organization, and after a few goals the game opened up. In the end, it was a back and forth affair with three lead changes until it finished 4-2 with the USA coming away with an exciting win.
GIFS OF… things that happened after an incredibly seductive saxophone national anthem
Going into the game, Chile had seen 28 red cards in their
most recent losses and it showed. The South Americans brought a physical presence to the match. For much of the first half, neither team could make any meaningful progress towards scoring a goal. The USA had most of the possession while Chile was ahead in the shot count. The backline woes for the Americans almost struck again as in the 30th a line breaking pass put Chris Brady in the position of keeping the game 0-0 thanks to a one v. one save.
Then in the 37th minute Gio Reyna and Sergino Dest played the ball into the box before the winger found Sebastian Berhalter who put the USA ahead 1-0.
The score would last to the 45th minute, but the USA failed to clear a corner in the first minute of added time and Chile scored in the ensuing scrum goal. There are goals won’t elicit anger, but this was not one of them.
At the half, the Poch would make his one change bringing in Brian Schwake in goal. He was tested early and just four minutes into the half Maximiliano Gutierrez made the score 2-1.
BUT THEN IMMEDIATELY THE USA MADE IT 2-2 ON A CROSS FROM GIO REYNA TO JULIAN ZAKRZEWSKI.
At the hour mark, Poch brought in Chris Richards, Zavier Gorzo, Alex Freeman, and Malik Tillman for Frankie Westfield, Sergino Dest, Adri Mehmeti, and Neil Pierre. There’d be some more subs and then THE USA SCORED ON A CORNER BECAUSE CHRIS RICHARDS CAN DEFY GRAVITY.
The USA wasn’t done though and in the 93rd minute Mathis Albert, who came in as a sub in the 71st minute, had a ball played into his path from Austin Trusty from a free kick. The teenager tapped the ball into the net to put the Americans ahead 4-1.
Then, since it was Chile, there was a fight and the game ended.
